Effect of time-restricted eating on sex hormone levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal females.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Secondary analysis of an uncontrolled prospective intervention cohort
PubMed 36203273 · doi:10.1002/oby.23562
What was done
Secondary analysis of an 8-week time-restricted eating trial (4- to 6-hour daily eating window) in adults with obesity. Men and perimenopausal females were excluded. Participants were classified by menstrual status into premenopausal (n = 12) and postmenopausal (n = 11) groups. Outcomes measured were changes in body weight and circulating levels of testosterone, androstenedione, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and (in postmenopausal females only) estradiol, estrone, and progesterone.
What was found
Body weight decreased in premenopausal (-3% ± 2%) and postmenopausal females (-4% ± 2%) (main effect of time, p < 0.001), with no difference between groups. Testosterone, androstenedione, and SHBG showed no significant changes in either group. DHEA concentrations decreased in premenopausal (-14% ± 32%) and postmenopausal females (-13% ± 34%; main effect of time, p = 0.03). Estradiol, estrone, and progesterone in postmenopausal females remained unchanged.
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary human evidence that short-term time-restricted eating induces modest weight loss without disrupting circulating androgens or postmenopausal estrogens, though DHEA levels declined.
Limits
Sample size was very small (n = 23 total) with no non-fasting control group. Estradiol, estrone, and progesterone were not measured in premenopausal females. DHEA percentage changes showed large variance, and the duration was limited to 8 weeks.
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