A daily 8-hour time-restricted eating (TRE) plan is associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in the general population and in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer, compared with eating for a duration of 12 to 16 hours, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2024.

Researchers analyzed data on dietary patterns in participants from the 2003 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and mortality data through December 31, 2019, from the National Death Index database.

A total of 20,078 adults aged 20 years or older and not pregnant were included. Their mean age was 48.5 years, 50% were men, 73.3% were White, 17.9% were current smokers, and their mean body mass index was 28.7. In addition, 8.2% had CVD, and 11.0% had cancer.

Of the cohort, 414 individuals had a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours, 1492 had a daily eating duration of 8 to less than 10 hours, 4832 had a daily eating duration of 10 to less than 12 hours, 11,831 had a daily eating duration of 12 to 16 hours, and 1509 had a daily eating duration of more than 16 hours.

These findings require replication but do not support long-term use of 8-hour TRE for prevention of cardiovascular death nor for improving longevity.

For all-cause mortality, participants with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours had an overall hazard ratio (HR) of 1.26 (95% CI, 0.91-1.74), compared with those who had a duration of 12 to 16 hours. The HR was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.93-1.39) in individuals with a daily eating duration of 8 to less than 10 hours, 1.05 (95% CI, 0.92-1.20) in those with a duration of 10 to less than 12 hours, and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.78-1.25) in those with a duration of longer than 16 hours.

Related Content

For cardiovascular mortality, the HR was 1.91 (95% CI, 1.20-3.03) in individuals with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours vs those with a duration of 12 to 16 hours. The HR was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.92-1.71) in those with a duration of 8 to less than 10 hours. Among patients with CVD, those with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours had an HR for cardiovascular mortality of 2.07 (95% CI, 1.14-3.78). In patients with cancer, the HR for cardiovascular mortality was 3.04 (95% CI, 1.44-6.41) for those with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours.

Regarding cancer mortality, the overall HR for individuals with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.62-2.32) vs a reference group of those with an eating duration of 12 to 16 hours. In patients with CVD, the HR for cancer mortality was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.25-1.90) for those with an eating duration of less than 8 hours and 1.33 (95% CI, 0.64-2.78) in those with a duration of greater than 16 hours. For patients with cancer, the HR for cancer mortality was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.13-1.49) in those with a daily eating duration of less than 8 hours.

“These findings require replication but do not support long-term use of 8-hour TRE for prevention of cardiovascular death nor for improving longevity,” the study authors concluded.

This article originally appeared on The Cardiology Advisor

References:

Chen M, Xu L, Van Horn L, et al. Association of 8-hour time-restricted eating with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2024. March 18-21, 2024, Chicago, Illinois. Abstract P192.