According to a very recent systematic review published in the ‘Frontiers in Nutrition’, time-restricted eating (TRE) appears to be a promising nutritional intervention for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Xiaoxiao Lin et al. summarized and examined all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TRE for NAFLD patients. Database searching included looking for relevant RCTs across Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed from their beginning till 1 September 2023.

Overall, 4 RCTs were considered, comprising 443 NAFLD patients. The sample sizes across these investigations varied from 32 to 271 study participants. The application of the TRE intervention occurred within 8 hours regularly, for a period from 4 weeks to 12 months. The results indicated that TRE may provide numerous health advantages for individuals with NAFLD, including enhancements in vital liver health markers such as reduced liver stiffness and lower intrahepatic triglyceride levels.

While TRE shows promise for NAFLD, it's premature for a widespread recommendation. Limited research highlights the necessity for high-quality studies to grasp TRE's benefits in treating NAFLD. Ongoing or current clinical trials may help to provide a clear understanding, the study researchers concluded.