MedPath

Time-Restricted Eating and Muscle Hypertrophy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Healthy and Well-Trained Men and Women
Muscle Hypertrophy
Interventions
Other: Time Restricted Eating
Other: Normal Feeding
Other: Resistance Training
Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein
Registration Number
NCT04000750
Lead Sponsor
California State University, Fullerton
Brief Summary

The purpose is to examine the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE; consuming all calories within an 8-hour period each day) vs. normal eating (CON; consuming same kcals and protein as TRE, but during a 10-13 hr eating window each day) during 8 weeks of resistance exercise on body composition and muscle mass (whole muscle and single fiber), muscular performance, anabolic protein signaling, single muscle fiber characteristics, and the gut microbiome in well-trained young men and women.

Detailed Description

The primary goal pertains to muscle hypertrophy (not fat loss), thus all participants will be placed in a 10% caloric surplus.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18-35 years old with <25% (men) or <30% (women) body fat
  • have experience in resistance exercise for the whole body and performed resistance exercise at least 3 times per week the last 12 months
  • be able to perform all necessary exercises with safe technique and no pain
  • be able to squat 1.5x (men) or 1x (women) body weight
  • be able to bench press 1.1x (men) or 0.55x (women) body weight
  • be on a non-specialized, mixed macronutrient diet
  • have a lifestyle which enables a reasonably consistent 7+ hours of sleep per night
  • be free of any current joint, musculoskeletal, and/or neuromuscular injuries
Exclusion Criteria
  • have any known current illness, prohibitive muscular or neuromuscular problem, hypertension, cardiac, pulmonary, liver, kidney, insulin or any other metabolic disorders (e.g. Type I or Type II diabetes)
  • are lactose intolerant or unable to consume whey protein for any reason
  • are on any medications known to affect protein metabolism
  • have taken antibiotics in the last 6 months
  • cannot refrain from consuming any alcoholic beverages, nicotine, or marijuana (or derivative) for a period of 48 hours prior to data collection (pre and post testing)
  • consume alcohol >2x per week
  • consume any analgesic or anti-inflammatory drug(s), prescription or non-prescription, chronically or within 48 hours of data collection
  • consume any recreational drug(s), prescription or non-prescription, legal or illegal, chronically or within 30 days of data collection
  • consume any caffeine or food within 12 hours of data collection
  • cannot refrain from physical exercise (outside of activities of daily living) outside of what is prescribed by the research team for the duration of the study
  • cannot refrain from using recovery methods such as electric stimulation, hot/cold therapy, massage, chiropractic, or personal air/water devices (Normatech, etc.)
  • have utilized any anabolic steroid, currently or in the past
  • cannot refrain from consumption of any supplementation (creatine, multivitamin, fish oil, protein powder, BCAA, pre-workouts, etc.) outside of what is provided
  • cannot refrain from consuming any supplemental pro or prebiotics or other items that intentionally alter the gut microbiome
  • fail to adhere to the nutritional guidelines or miss >3 of the exercise sessions
  • were recently pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Time Restricted Eating (16:8)Resistance TrainingParticipants will consume all calories within an 8 hour window each day.
ControlResistance TrainingParticipants will consume all calories within a \~12 hour window each day (4 separate meals + needed snacks).
Time Restricted Eating (16:8)Time Restricted EatingParticipants will consume all calories within an 8 hour window each day.
ControlWhey ProteinParticipants will consume all calories within a \~12 hour window each day (4 separate meals + needed snacks).
Time Restricted Eating (16:8)Whey ProteinParticipants will consume all calories within an 8 hour window each day.
ControlNormal FeedingParticipants will consume all calories within a \~12 hour window each day (4 separate meals + needed snacks).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Muscle Size - Lower BodyPre, Mid (4 weeks), and Post (8 weeks)

via Ultrasound

Changes in Muscle Size - Upper BodyPre, Mid (4 weeks), and Post (8 weeks)

via Ultrasound

Changes in Fiber Type-Specific SizePre and Post (week 8)

Single muscle fiber analysis

Changes in Body compositionPre, Mid (4 weeks), and Post (8 weeks)

via BodPod

Acute Exercise Induced Fiber Type-Specific Anabolic Signaling (Total Concentration and Phosphorylation Status)Day 1 of exercise training

Men only; assessed via single fiber Simple Western

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Maximal StrengthPre and Post (week 8)

1RM on bench press, squat, and leg extension

Changes in Maximal Muscular EndurancePre and Post (week 8)

Maximal repetitions on bench press and leg press

Changes in Enjoyment of DietWeekly for duration of the intervention (8 weeks)

via Questionnaire

Changes in Gut MicrobiomePre, Mid (week 2, 4, 6), and Post (week 8)

via stool sample

Changes in Fiber Type CompositionPre and Post (week 8)

Single Fiber via SDS-PAGE

Changes in Sleep (total and quality)Weekly for duration of the intervention (8 weeks)

via Questionnaire

Changes in Fiber Type-Specific Resting Anabolic Signaling (Total Concentration and Phosphorylation Status)Pre and Post (week 8)

via single fiber Simple Western

Changes in Menstrual CyclePre, Mid (week 4), and post (week 8)

via Questionnaire; women only

Total Training VolumeAfter 8 weeks
Nutrient IntakeDaily, starting 7 days before the study and continuing for 8 additional weeks

Total Kcal and grams of protein, fat, and carbohydrates

Changes in MoodWeekly for duration of the intervention (8 weeks)

via Questionnaire

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center for Sport Performance at California State University, Fullerton

🇺🇸

Fullerton, California, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath