Countermeasures to Circadian Misalignment

Summary

Insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment are independent risk factors for the development of obesity and diabetes, yet few strategies exist to counter metabolic impairments when these behaviors are unavoidable.

This project will examine whether avoiding food intake during the biological night can mitigate the impact of circadian misalignment on metabolic homeostasis in adults during simulated night shift work. Findings from this study could identify a translatable strategy to minimize metabolic diseases in populations that include anyone working nonstandard hours such as police, paramedics, firefighters, military personnel, pilots, doctors and nurses, truck drivers, and individuals with sleep disorders.

Conditions

• Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder of Shift Work Type
• Metabolic Disease
• Insulin Sensitivity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Time-restricted feeding

Each subject will participate in both conditions (CM and CM+TRF)--one in which food is allowed during the nighttime period and one in which food will be restricted to the daytime only. Food intake will be matched across conditions and designed to keep participants weight stable.

BEHAVIORAL

Circadian Misalignment

Healthy lean subjects will undergo circadian misalignment induced using a simulated night shift-work protocol in both conditions of the study. Each condition will last approximately 6 days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Colorado, Denver

  collaborator OTHER

• Salk Institute for Biological Studies

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  collaborator NIH

• Colorado State University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-07

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations