Time-Restricted Eating for Cancer-related Fatigue

This trial explores whether time-restricted eating, where participants consume all their food within a 10-hour window each day, can reduce fatigue in cancer survivors. Many cancer patients experience persistent tiredness that does not improve with rest, impacting daily activities and quality of life. Participants will either follow the time-restricted eating plan or receive guidance on general healthy eating without time restrictions. Those who have had blood cancer, completed treatment over two months ago, and still struggle with tiredness affecting daily life might be suitable for this trial. The study aims to determine if changing eating patterns can improve energy levels and overall well-being. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to potentially impactful findings.

The trial does not require you to stop taking your current medications. You can continue taking your medicines at all times during the study.

Research has shown that time-restricted eating is generally safe for people with cancer. In one study, participants who followed this eating pattern felt significantly less tired by the end, suggesting it could help with cancer-related fatigue. Another study found that people with cancer considered time-restricted eating manageable and beneficial for their overall quality of life. These findings indicate that time-restricted eating is well-tolerated, with no major safety concerns reported.¹²³⁴⁵

Most treatments for cancer-related fatigue involve medications and lifestyle changes like exercise therapy and counseling. But time-restricted eating is unique because it focuses on when you eat rather than what you eat, aiming to align eating patterns with the body's natural circadian rhythms. Researchers are excited because this approach could potentially improve energy levels and reduce fatigue without the need for additional medications. Moreover, time-restricted eating is simple to implement and could offer a more holistic way to manage fatigue, benefiting overall well-being and potentially enhancing the effectiveness of existing treatments.

Research shows that time-restricted eating (TRE), where people consume all meals within a 10-hour period, might help reduce cancer-related fatigue. Early results found that after just two weeks, cancer survivors felt less tired. This trial will compare TRE with time-unrestricted eating to evaluate its effectiveness. Studies also suggest that TRE may offer other benefits, such as improving quality of life and being easy for people with cancer to follow. By eating within a set time frame, TRE may help reset the body's internal clock, which cancer and its treatments might disrupt. This reset could be one reason why fatigue decreases.¹²³⁴⁵