Daytime Eating During Simulated Night Work Mitigates Cardiometabolic Changes
Summary
This randomized trial tested whether eating only during the daytime could protect heart health during simulated night shifts. Twenty healthy adults were assigned either to eat across both day and night (like typical shift workers) or to eat only during the day. After several days of simulated night work, those who ate both day and night showed signs of cardiovascular strain, including higher blood pressure, disrupted heart rhythm balance, and increased clotting risk. In contrast, those who ate only during the day did not show these negative changes, and their blood pressure actually went down slightly.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
Night work often raises blood pressure and stresses the heart, contributing to long-term cardiovascular risk. This study shows that simply limiting meals to the daytime—even while still working nights—can help protect heart function and reduce strain on the cardiovascular system. For shift workers, it highlights meal timing as a realistic, non-medical strategy to support heart health during irregular schedules.
Notes
Press summaries: NIH/NHLBI, Harvard Sleep Medicine.