Fasting vs Eating at Night During Simulated Night Shifts
Author Information
Author(s): Stephanie Centofanti, Leonie K. Heilbronn, Gary Wittert, Jillian Dorrian, Alison M. Coates, David Kennaway, Charlotte Gupta, Jacqueline M. Stepien, Peter Catcheside, Crystal Yates, Linda Grosser, Raymond W. Matthews, Siobhan Banks
Primary Institution: University of South Australia
Hypothesis
Food intake during night shifts may contribute to impaired glucose metabolism.
Conclusion
Fasting at night helps maintain glucose metabolism during simulated night-shift work.
Supporting Evidence
- Night-shift work impairs insulin sensitivity.
- Fasting at night resulted in better glucose tolerance compared to eating at night.
- Participants who fasted at night had increased insulin secretion.
Takeaway
Eating at night can make it harder for your body to handle sugar, but if you don't eat at all during the night, your body can manage better.
Methodology
A three-arm, parallel-group, cluster randomised controlled trial with healthy adults assigned to fasting, snacking, or eating meals at night.
Potential Biases
Participants and staff collecting measurements were not blinded to the study conditions.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a controlled environment and may not fully represent real-world conditions for shift workers.
Participant Demographics
Healthy, non-shift-working adults aged 18-50, with a mix of 32 men and 23 women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.035 for insulin AUC, p=0.016 for insulin sensitivity index, p=0.030 for insulinogenic index, p<0.001 for glucose AUC.
Confidence Interval
[95% CI 1.45, 2.56] for glucose AUC in meal-at-night condition.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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