Abstract
Background: Shift work disrupts circadian rhythms and increases metabolic disease risk. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) aligns food intake with endogenous clocks, but its efficacy in shift workers remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of a 10-hour TRF schedule on circadian metabolite rhythms in rotating shift workers.Methods: Thirty shift workers (15 male, 15 female; mean age 34.2±6.8 years) were randomly assigned to TRF (eating within a 10-hour window during daytime) or habitual eating (control) for 14 days. Blood samples were collected every 4 hours over 24 hours pre- and post-intervention to measure glucose, insulin, triglycerides, cortisol, and melatonin. Cosinor analysis assessed rhythm parameters (mesor, amplitude, acrophase).Results: TRF significantly improved glucose rhythm amplitude (0.8±0.2 vs. 0.5±0.3 mmol/L; p=0.01) and advanced cortisol acrophase by 2.1 hours (p=0.03) compared to control. Melatonin amplitude increased in the TRF group (3.2±1.1 vs. 2.1±0.9 pg/mL; p=0.02). Triglyceride mesor decreased (−0.3±0.4 mmol/L; p=0.04). No significant changes in insulin rhythm.Conclusions: TRF partially restores circadian metabolite rhythms in shift workers, suggesting a non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate metabolic disruption. Larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted.