While time-restricted eating (TME) is a known way of achieving meaningful weight loss, a new study shows that it may adversely affect fertility.
Time-restricted Eating
According to Medical News Today, TME is a type of intermittent fasting that focuses more on eating timing than calorie intake. The practice covers eating snacks and meals within a given period. In most cases, this period is set between 6 and 12 hours every day. Those who follow TME may only drink water or other calorie-free fluids outside of this period.
Studies have shown that TRE leads to great benefits. One study revealed "clinically meaningful weight loss" and fasting blood glucose improvements among those with obesity who followed a 10:14 eating-fasting window over the course of eight weeks.
Another study observed similar weight loss among women who had obesity. These women followed an 8:16 eating and fasting plan for three months.
However, while the aforementioned studies note the clear and positive effects of TRE, the practice does not always offer the desired outcomes.
TRE Negatively Affects Fertility
A new study among zebrafish models has found that TRE impacts the quality of eggs and sperm. These adverse effects remained even after the fish returned to their usual feeding window. The paper was included in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
According to Science Daily, the researchers note that though the study was conducted among zebrafish, it highlights how TRE should not just be seen in light of health and weight but also of fertility.
They looked into zebrafish to see what happens when individuals get exposed to food while they fast and after they fast. They gauged the body-maintenance resource allocation for females and males against the production and maintenance of eggs and sperm. They also looked at the quality of the offspring that resulted.
Dr. Edward Ivimey-Cook, who is from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, notes that they observed how TRE affects reproduction differs between males and females. When the zebrafish went back to their typical feeding schedules, females produced more offspring at the expense of egg quality. This led to a lesser quality of offspring. Male sperm, on the other hand, also had reduced quality.
Medical News Today notes that the quality of gametes was apparently adversely affected by fasting for both males and females. These effects also persisted even after the resumption of normal feeding. The authors suggest that, when eating was restricted, the fish allocated more resources for survival and body maintenance than reproduction.
Further research is required to know how long it may take for egg and sperm to return to their normal quality after periods of fasting.
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