The association of time-restricted eating and indices of organ-specific aging in relation to metabolic health and obesity

This cross-sectional study explored how time-restricted eating (TRE) interacts with metabolic health and obesity (MH&O) in relation to biological age indices of different organs. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2018) were analyzed, including 4890 participants. TRE strategies were assessed based on eating frequency and meal timing. Indices of organ-specific biological age (heart, kidney, liver, overall), frailty index, life's essential 8, and cardiometabolic index were evaluated. Metabolic dysfunction and obesity were associated with elevated indices of organ-specific biological age and impaired cardiovascular health, with MU status related to more rapid advancement of cardiovascular biological age indices. Excessively long or short fasting durations were associated with a decline in indices of liver metabolic health and worsened cardiovascular risk markers. Moderate eating frequencies and fasting durations were associated with lower biological age indices and better health metrics across subgroups. The association between better cardiovascular health and healthy metabolism was more pronounced in individuals who ate breakfast on time. This study underscores the independent relationship of MU&O with advancement in indices of organ-specific biological age and impaired cardiovascular health metrics. It also highlights the potential role of personalized TRE in relation to modulated biological age indices across various MH&O statuses.