Rationale and Design for Time Restricted Eating (TRE) and Mediterranean Diet TRE During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Abstract

Current standard care during treatment for breast cancer encourages enough energy intake to avoid lean mass loss, yet most patients struggle with weight gain during treatment. Time restricted eating (TRE) may garner positive effects on treatment outcomes as well as beneficial effects on glucose regulation and body composition. One potential drawback to TRE is that it does not address deficiencies in diet quality. Like TRE, a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) may provide benefits to this patient population. Thus, combining TRE with a MedDiet may have important health implications for breast cancer patients. TRE alone or combined with a MedDiet in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment is limited or not yet investigated. We describe a 12-week pilot trial of 8-hour TRE, 8-hour MedTRE, or Control among 45 females initiating chemotherapy for Stage I-III breast cancer. Aims of the study include, (1) Feasibility and accessibility and (2) preliminary efficacy on treatment related outcomes and (3) preliminary efficacy on glucometabolic and cancer-related biomarkers, body weight, and body composition. The long-term goal of this line of inquiry is to improve quality of life and long-term health outcomes to lead to a fully powered efficacy trial of TRE and MedTRE in this patient population.