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CompletedNCT04389970TREO_MSUpdated Mar 27, 2024Results posted

Time Restricted Eating Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis

An interventional study of Time Restricted Feeding in Multiple Sclerosis and Diet, Healthy, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-03-27.

Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
12
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the preliminary efficacy, safety, and acceptability of time restricted feeding (TRF) among a sample of 12 adults with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). The specific aims of this study are: 1: To determine preliminary efficacy of TRF for reducing symptom burden, improving inflammatory markers, and reducing cardiometabolic risk among adults with RRMS. 2: To determine the safety and participant acceptability of TRF. Participants will be asked to consume all food during an 8-hour window each day and not eat for the remaining 16 hours. All participants will follow this eating pattern for 8 weeks.

Read the detailed description

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and loss of axons in the central nervous system. Over the last decade there has been an influx of evidence demonstrating the impact of lifestyle risk factors on the progression of MS symptoms. Specifically, epidemiological studies report that poor diet is associated with increased risk of disability in adults with MS. Despite this evidence, little research has explored dietary interventions that may reduce symptom burden of MS. One dietary intervention that has shown particular promise in animal models of MS is intermittent fasting (IF), which is a dietary pattern characterized by cycles of eating and extended fasting. There are a number of protocols for IF, including time restricted feeding (TRF), in which all food is consumed during a limited window of time each day. Growing evidence demonstrates that IF reduces inflammation, improves immune function, and improves cardiometabolic risk in animal models of MS, however, little of this research has been translated into human trials. In addition to these physiological benefits, the investigators believe that TRF will provide a behavioral benefit, as it addresses barriers traditionally seen in dietary interventions by shifting the focus from restricting what participants eat, to focusing on meal timing.

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the preliminary efficacy, safety, and acceptability of TRF in adults with MS. The specific aims of this study are: 1: To determine preliminary efficacy of TRF for reducing symptom burden, improving inflammatory markers, and reducing cardiometabolic risk among adults with RRMS. 2: To determine the safety and participant acceptability of TRF.

Twelve adults with relapsing-remitting MS will eat all meals within an 8 hour period each day. All participants will follow the assigned meal plan for 8 weeks.

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Conditions studied

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Diet, Healthy
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In context

Multiple Sclerosis

3,460 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 661 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 12 is below the median of 50 across 2,342 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.

Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,396 studies on the registry; 284 are open to participants now.

Of its 156 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 124 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS)
  • BMI between 18-50 kg.m2
  • If on disease-modifying medications, stable for 6 months
  • If not on disease-modifying medication, no medication usage within previous 6 months
  • Able to walk 25 ft. with or without assistance

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Relapse within previous 30 days
  • Actively engaged in a weight loss program or unwilling to follow assigned dietary timing pattern
  • Regularly fasts >15 hours/day
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Current use of insulin or sulfonylurea agents
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
12 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Time Restricted Feeding

    Participants will be asked to follow a time-restricted meal pattern (8:16 protocol)

    Behavioral: Time Restricted Feeding

Interventions

  • BehavioralTime Restricted Feeding

    Participants will eat all food within an 8 hour window each day. They will only consume water or black coffee during the remaining 16 hours.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Timed 25-foot Walk Speed

    Change in timed 25-foot walk test speed between baseline and 8 weeks. Speed calculated as ft per second, and change calculated as speed at baseline - speed at 8 weeks. Higher score indicates better outcome. There are no minimum or maximum values, as this is the measure of the time it takes a participant to walk 25 feet. Higher score indicates higher speed, which is preferable.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire

    15-item questionnaire requiring respondent to rate types of pain as mild, moderate or severe. Scores range from 0-45, with higher pain intensity indicated by higher score. Change calculated as SFMPQ score at basline - SFMPQ score at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  2. Modified Fatigue Impact Scale

    21-item questionnaire with possible score ranging from 0-84. Higher scores indicate higher impact of fatigue on a person's life. Change in MFIS was calculated as MFIS score at baseline - MFIS score at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  3. Fatigue Severity Scale

    9-item questionnaire in respondents rate each statement from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Total scores range from 9- 63, with higher score indicating higher fatigue severity. Change in FSS calculated as FSS at baseline - FSS at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  4. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    19 self-rated items that produce 7 component scores and 1 global score. Only global scores were calculated for this study. Global scores can range from 0-21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change in PSQI calculated as PSQI at baseline - PSQI at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  5. Percent Lean Mass

    Lean mass as a percent of total body mass, measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  6. 9 Hole Peg Test Speed

    Higher score indicates better outcome. Speed on 9 hole peg test was measured as pegs per second, and change in speed was calculated as speed at baseline - speed at 8 weeks. There are no minimum or maximum values, as the measure is time that it takes a person to complete the test. Higher score indicates faster speed, which is preferable.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  7. Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)

    The score is the number of symbols identified correctly in 90 seconds. Potential scores range from 0-110. Higher score indicate improved outcome. Change in score on the SDMT calculated as SDMT score at baseline- SDMT score at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

  8. Percent Fat Mass

    Change in fat mass as percentage of total body mass, measured by DXA. Calculated as percent fat mass at baseline- percent fat mass at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks

07

Results

Posted Mar 27, 2024
Limitations and caveats
This was a feasibility study and was not powered to detect statistical significance. Significance values are presented but no evaluation of significance can be concluded.

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneTime Restricted Feeding
Started12
Completed11
Not completed1
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up1

Outcome measures

PrimaryTimed 25-foot Walk Speed

Change in timed 25-foot walk test speed between baseline and 8 weeks. Speed calculated as ft per second, and change calculated as speed at baseline - speed at 8 weeks. Higher score indicates better outcome. There are no minimum or maximum values, as this is the measure of the time it takes a participant to walk 25 feet. Higher score indicates higher speed, which is preferable.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · feet/second
Timed 25-foot Walk Speed
feet/secondTime Restricted Feeding
Timed 25-foot Walk Speed-.3 ± 1.2
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .39Paired-samples t-test
SecondaryShort Form McGill Pain Questionnaire

15-item questionnaire requiring respondent to rate types of pain as mild, moderate or severe. Scores range from 0-45, with higher pain intensity indicated by higher score. Change calculated as SFMPQ score at basline - SFMPQ score at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire
score on a scaleTime Restricted Feeding
Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-1.9 ± 5.4
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .3Paired-samples t-test
SecondaryModified Fatigue Impact Scale

21-item questionnaire with possible score ranging from 0-84. Higher scores indicate higher impact of fatigue on a person's life. Change in MFIS was calculated as MFIS score at baseline - MFIS score at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale
score on a scaleTime Restricted Feeding
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-1.3 ± 14.3
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .77Paired-sample t-test
SecondaryFatigue Severity Scale

9-item questionnaire in respondents rate each statement from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Total scores range from 9- 63, with higher score indicating higher fatigue severity. Change in FSS calculated as FSS at baseline - FSS at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Fatigue Severity Scale
score on a scaleTime Restricted Feeding
Fatigue Severity Scale2.3 ± 16.7
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .66Paired-samples t-test.
SecondaryPittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

19 self-rated items that produce 7 component scores and 1 global score. Only global scores were calculated for this study. Global scores can range from 0-21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change in PSQI calculated as PSQI at baseline - PSQI at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
score on a scaleTime Restricted Feeding
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.2 ± 4.0
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .88Paired samples t-test
SecondaryPercent Lean Mass

Lean mass as a percent of total body mass, measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · percentage of total mass
Percent Lean Mass
percentage of total massTime Restricted Feeding
Percent Lean Mass0 ± 1.0
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .03Paired-samples t-test
Secondary9 Hole Peg Test Speed

Higher score indicates better outcome. Speed on 9 hole peg test was measured as pegs per second, and change in speed was calculated as speed at baseline - speed at 8 weeks. There are no minimum or maximum values, as the measure is time that it takes a person to complete the test. Higher score indicates faster speed, which is preferable.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · pegs/second
9 Hole Peg Test Speed
pegs/secondTime Restricted Feeding
9 Hole Peg Test Speed.02 ± .03
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .06Paired samples t-test
SecondarySymbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)

The score is the number of symbols identified correctly in 90 seconds. Potential scores range from 0-110. Higher score indicate improved outcome. Change in score on the SDMT calculated as SDMT score at baseline- SDMT score at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)
score on a scaleTime Restricted Feeding
Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)5.8 ± 8.3
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = .04Paired samples t-test
SecondaryPercent Fat Mass

Change in fat mass as percentage of total body mass, measured by DXA. Calculated as percent fat mass at baseline- percent fat mass at 8 weeks.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 8 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · percentage of total mass
Percent Fat Mass
percentage of total massTime Restricted Feeding
Percent Fat Mass0 ± 1.0
Statistical analysis
  • Time Restricted Feeding · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0Paired sample t-test

Adverse events

Collected over 8 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Time Restricted Feeding0/12 (0%)0/12 (0%)0/12 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Time Restricted Feeding
Mean46 ± 10
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Time Restricted Feeding
Female10
Male2
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Time Restricted Feeding
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American5
White7
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported0
08

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol, analysis plan and consent form · Sep 20, 2020

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 27, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04389970
Lead sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collaborators
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Responsible party
Brooks C. Wingo, PhD (Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 15, 2020
Start date
Oct 1, 2020
Primary completion
Jul 30, 2021
Completion
Jul 30, 2021
Results posted
Mar 27, 2024
Last update
Mar 27, 2024

Study contacts

Brooks C Wingo, PhD
principal investigator · Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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