Time-Restricted Feeding tied to reduction of symptoms and Inflammation in Crohn’s Disease: Study

A new study published in the journal of Gastroenterology showed that after a 12-week period of time-restricted eating, persons with Crohn's disease in clinical remission who were overweight or obese had significant improvements in their symptoms and a decrease in systemic inflammation.

Recurrent gastrointestinal inflammation, abdominal discomfort, and a reduced quality of life are symptoms of Crohn's disease. Other populations have demonstrated metabolic advantages, like weight loss and reduced inflammatory profiles, from time-restricted feeding (TRF), a type of intermittent fasting in which food intake is confined to a set daily window. In people with Crohn's disease who are overweight or obese, this randomized controlled study examined the potential benefits of an 8-hour time-restricted eating schedule on body composition, inflammatory markers, and clinical disease activity.

Adults with Crohn's disease who were overweight or obese were included in this 12-week randomized controlled experiment. Either a control group or a TRF group was allocated to the participants. The TRF group maintained their typical dietary composition despite consuming all of their daily calories during an 8-hour window and fasted for 16 hours.

Without any time constraints, the control group carried on with their regular eating routine. Body mass index (BMI), visceral adipose tissue, blood indicators of systemic inflammation (such leptin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), and Crohn's disease activity scores were among the outcomes that were evaluated at baseline and after 12 weeks. The intensity of the symptoms, especially the pain in the abdomen, was also assessed. Throughout the trial, food intake and adherence were tracked.

When compared to controls, the TRF group showed notable gains after 12 weeks. Both visceral abdominal fat and BMI were decreased in those who practiced TRF. Additionally, there was a decrease in inflammatory biomarkers, which suggests less systemic inflammation.

Clinically, the TRF group's Crohn's disease activity levels reduced by around 40%, and their stomach pain significantly decreased. Although there were no significant changes in the groups' calorie intake or food composition, these advantages occurred, indicating that meal time had a role in the effects that were shown.

Overall, in individuals with Crohn's disease who were overweight or obese, time-restricted meals was linked to improved clinical disease activity, decreased body weight, lower visceral fat, and improved inflammatory markers. These results imply that meal time may affect immunological and metabolic processes associated with Crohn's disease and may be used as a supportive tactic in addition to conventional treatment.

Source:

Haskey, N., Ye, J., Lewis, A., Yousuf, M., Reimer, R. A., & Raman, M. (2026). Time-restricted feeding reduces body mass index, visceral adiposity, systemic inflammation, and clinical disease activity in adults with crohn’s disease: A randomized controlled study. Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2025.11.008