The Effects of Fasting vs Meal or Snack During Simulated Night Work
Summary
This article is a protocol for a randomized, laboratory-based study that will test how night-time eating patterns influence metabolic responses during simulated night shifts. Healthy adults will complete a seven-day in-lab schedule (daytime sleep, night-time wake) and be randomized to one of three conditions: a full meal at night, a small night-time snack, or no night-time eating with calories redistributed to daytime. Diet composition and total daily energy will be tightly controlled. The primary outcomes are next-morning glucose, insulin, and free-fatty-acid responses assessed via an oral glucose tolerance test; secondary outcomes include cognitive performance, driving simulation, polysomnography-based sleep measures, mood, and circadian hormones. This paper outlines methods only and does not report results.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
Meal timing is a modifiable behavior with potential to lessen metabolic strain during night work. By directly comparing no night-time intake, a light snack, and a full night meal under controlled conditions, this study is designed to clarify whether when food is consumed at night meaningfully alters next-day glucose regulation and related functions. Although findings are not yet available, the results could inform future, practical guidance on eating patterns for individuals who regularly work against the body’s circadian clock.
Notes
Accessible overview of meal‑timing effects during nights.