Time-Restricted Eating Enhances Athletic Health and Performance

Recent research from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) highlights the potential benefits of time-restricted eating (TRE) for athletes, emphasizing improvements in health and athletic performance. TRE involves limiting food intake to a specific daily window, typically between 3-4 to 10-12 hours, a practice well-studied in the general population for its lifespan benefits, but less so among high-performance athletes.

The study, a systematic review published openly in the Revista Española de Nutrición Comunitaria, was led by Òscar Sánchez, a community dietitian and sports nutritionist. Sánchez notes that evidence suggests TRE can be beneficial for athletes, with some studies indicating it may enhance or maintain performance without adverse effects, especially when combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Combining TRE with HIIT may lead to even greater performance gains, though further research is necessary to establish comprehensive guidelines for athletes.

In endurance disciplines, TRE appears to support better body composition and immunity, potentially reducing the risk of metabolic disorders that athletes may face post-retirement. The review also pointed to hormonal and molecular improvements linked to aging, such as increased levels of neuroprotective proteins and autophagy-related markers, which help in cellular renewal and longevity.

Additionally, TRE has shown promising effects in slowing down biological aging, as it can reduce epigenetic age measures, oxidative stress, and inflammation. These benefits are complemented by improvements in metabolic health, like better blood sugar regulation and decreased fat mass, provided TRE is integrated into a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

The researchers stress that most findings are preliminary, and more robust, controlled studies are needed to confirm safety, efficacy, and optimal implementation, particularly in elite sports. Nonetheless, experts like Sánchez advocate for cautious adoption of TRE by athletes and emphasize its potential as a valuable strategy for promoting long-term health and performance.

Overall, this emerging evidence supports TRE not only as a tool for longevity and disease prevention but also as a promising strategy to enhance athletic performance and recovery, paving the way for new nutritional approaches in sports science.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-restricted-boost-athletes-health.html