Time-restricted eating is a fasting diet where the food intake is restricted to a short, typically eight-hour, window each day. It is associated with health benefits such as weight loss, improved sleep, protection against cognitive disorders, and improved cognitive function. The cognitive effects of time-restricted eating have primarily been explained by the production of ketogenesis – an alternative energy source produced when calories are restricted – and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The gut microbiota is the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the intestinal tract and has also been associated with improved mental health through communication via the gut-brain axis. This review aims to investigate whether changes in the microbiota may mediate the effect of time-restricted eating on cognitive function. Studies investigating the effect of time-restricted eating on the microbiota were systematically reviewed. The results indicate that time-restricted eating may alter the microbiome composition and increase butyrate-producing bacteria. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid associated with the expression of genes involved in neural development and the reduction of neuroinflammation. Limited by the few studies reviewed, the results may indicate a possible link between time-restricted eating and cognitive function via the microbiota, although more research is needed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:his-21136 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Lind, Susanne |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Skövde, Institutionen för biovetenskap |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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