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ABSTRACT
Background & aim
Food addiction (FA) as a specific food-related behavior may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gut microbiota (GM) alterations probably through fasting are closely related to brain function, affecting eating behaviors and body weight management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on serum BDNF levels and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women with FA.
Methods and design
This clinical trial was performed with a 2-month follow-up on 56 obese and overweight women with FA. Participants were randomly divided into two groups receiving a low-calorie diet (n = 27) and a group receiving a low-calorie diet with TRF (n = 29). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, eating behavior, and stress were assessed during the study period.
Results
The reductions in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat mass were significantly higher in the TRF group compared to the control group at week 8 (P = 0.018, P = 0.015. P = 0.03, and P = 0.036, respectively). The cognitive restriction score was higher in the TRF as compared with the control group (P = 0.002). The food addiction criteria score was significantly reduced in both groups (P < 0.001). Serum levels of BDNF were significantly increased in the TRF group (P < 0.001). In addition, BDNF levels had a positive and significant correlation with the cognitive restriction score (r = 0.468 and P < 0.001), While the correlation with FA was not significant (β = 0.588 and P = 0.618). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein decreased significantly in both groups, but this decrease was significantly higher in the TRF group than in the control group (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
The results of this study showed that a low-calorie diet with TRF is more effective in weight management than a low-calorie diet alone, probably through further modulating the GM and improving BDNF levels. More effective weight loss in the TRF is probably related to better management of eating behavior than FA.
Trial registration
Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20131228015968N7.
Acknowledgment
We appreciate all participants and the staffs of the Nutrition research laboratory of National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute and the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciencesin Tehran, Iran, for their invaluable assistance.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, AS. The data are not publicly available due to restrictions e.g. their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.
Author contributions
Study concept and design: Saidpour, Irani; acquisition of data: Irani, Khodami&Ghazi, analysis and interpretation of data: Saidpour, Yari&Irani; drafting of the manuscript: Saidpour,Irani and Abiri; study supervision: Saidpour.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The protocol of this study was approved by the ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences and conformed to the declaration of Helsinki (approved number IR.SBMU.NNFTRI.REC.1399.03) on 2020-10-05. Each subject signed an informed consent form. This investigation was registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT registration number: IRCT20131228015968N7).
Consent for publication
All authors have given consent for the paper to be published by the corresponding author.