WASHINGTON: The timing of meals may be just as important as what people eat when it comes to healthy aging, according to a new US study that found eating within a limited daytime window could reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall health later in life.
Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center said aligning meals with the body's natural biological clock, or circadian rhythm, may help support healthier aging.
While life expectancy has increased significantly over the past century, researchers noted that many people still spend about 10% of their lives living with chronic age-related illnesses.
The study found that moderate calorie restriction could lower the risk of conditions such as cancer, heart disease and cognitive decline by as much as 50% during middle and older age.
It also suggested that eating earlier in the day instead of late at night was associated with a roughly 35% lower risk of disease and better overall health.
The research involved 528 healthy mice. After eight weeks of unrestricted feeding, the animals were divided into groups with different eating schedules.
One group continued to eat freely, while others were allowed to consume their daily food only within feeding windows ranging from two to 12 hours.
Researchers monitored the animals throughout their lives and found that mice that consumed all of their daily food within an eight-hour period lived about 12% longer on average than those that ate without time restrictions.
Although the lifespan benefit was less pronounced in the other groups, mice that followed time-restricted eating schedules showed better overall health and lower rates of obesity and chronic disease.
The study also found health benefits when all daily food was consumed within a 12-hour window.
Researchers said the findings provide early evidence that, for humans, finishing daily meals within about 12 hours after breakfast may support better health.
However, they emphasized that further clinical studies involving people are needed to confirm the results.
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The researchers cautioned that the study was conducted in mice, but said the findings suggest that meal timing, along with a balanced diet, may play an important role in promoting healthy aging and reducing the risk of chronic disease.
