Shift WorkTREshNCT06686667
The Feasibility of Overnight Time Restricted Eating and Impact on Glucose Levels in Shift Workers
A study testing Time Restricted Eating in people with Shift Work and Eating Behaviors, run by Woolcock Institute of Medical Research at 1 site in Australia.
Trial summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to assess whether it is feasible for shift workers to follow a time-restricted eating diet. The trial will investigate the impact of time-restricted eating on blood glucose levels during day and night shifts both with and without the time-restricted eating diet. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 23 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Shift Work, Eating Behaviors
- What is being tested?
- Time Restricted Eating
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 31 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAustralia
- Study dates
- 24 Mar 2025to 1 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 23 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthcare professionals engaged in rotating shift work, including night shifts;
- Aged 23-60 years;
- At least 12 months experience in shift work;
- Willing to wear continuous glucose monitor sensors;
- Willing to engage in time restricted eating.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of diabetes (Type 1 or 2), any bariatric surgery, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, endocrine disorders affecting glucose metabolism, current or history of eating disorder, any liver, kidney, or coronary heart disease, obese (BMI>35) or underweight (BMI< 18) or any severe or unstable chronic medical conditions or cancers;
- Currently taking medications known to interact with glucose metabolism, i.e. thyroxin, insulin sensitizers, glucocorticoids, or anti-depressants, weight loss medication;
- Undertaking current structured or restrictive dietary plan;
- Shift workers who routinely do not eat between 23:00 and 06:00 hours during night shift;
- Current or planned pregnancy or currently breast feeding;
- Consume three or more standard alcohol containing beverages on a single occasion almost every day;
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- People who identify as having significant caffeine dependency and are unwilling to limit intake of calorie free energy drinks;
- People with planned travel over time zones during the study period
- Any contraindication to use of Abott FreeStyle Libre Pro glucose sensor (eg prescription of vitamin C, Salicylic acid or paracetamol - to be reviewed by study clinician).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Overnight Time Restricted Eating on Glucose Regulation in Rotating Shift Workers - A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial
The aim of this clinical trial is to assess whether it is feasible for shift workers to follow a time-restricted eating diet. The trial will investigate the impact of time-restricted eating on blood glucose levels during day and night shifts both with and without the time-restricted eating diet.
The trial aims are:
- Is it feasible for shift workers to adhere to a night time time-restricted eating protocol?
- How does time-restricted eating affect blood glucose levels during the day and night shifts and over the whole day?
Read the detailed description
Shift work is an essential component of modern workforces, with about 20% of the workforce regularly engaged in shift work. Research has shown shift workers are at higher risk of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic disease, compared to day-only workers. Specifically, evidence shows eating overnight significantly increases the risk of metabolic syndrome. We also know eating patterns of shift workers and non-shift workers are different with evidence from our research showing shift workers engaged in night shift change their eating behaviors compared to day shifts. With a substantial proportion of the workforce involved in shift work, understanding the health challenges is crucial for developing targeted interventions and promoting a healthier shift working population.
Despite the need for behavioural eating interventions in shift workers, there is a lack of studies examining how these eating interventions would be implemented in real world contexts. Some dietary interventions related to quantity, quality and timing of food in shift workers have been reported, including limiting the quantity of food with various macronutrient restriction and low-calorie meal replacements, improving the quality of food with dietary advice/counselling, and promoting healthier food choices with variable results.
With recent recognition of the timing of food consumption being an important factor of metabolic regulation, time restricted eating (TRE) offers a viable strategy for improving metabolic health. TRE is a chrono-nutritional strategy involving close alignment of meal timing with typical circadian physiology over 24-hour periods. Typically, this involves an eating window of approximately 8 hours, with no eating during the night. Evidence shows TRE improves alignment of the fasting/eating cycle with the central circadian pacemaker and initiating nutrient-sensing pathways to ensure nutrient homeostasis. Research has shown TRE is an effective chrono-nutritional intervention for weight reduction, improvements in HbA1c and insulin levels, reduced insulin resistance or enhanced insulin sensitivity, improved glucose tolerance and reduced mean fasting glucose and improved quality of life. However, using TRE has not been examined extensively in shift workers in real world settings.
A recent narrative review found only three studies had investigated TRE as a diet strategy for shift workers under real-life conditions and these studies were conducted in populations with limited exposure to shift work situations (e.g. rotating shift work). Therefore, research is required that investigates the feasibility of TRE during night shifts in rotating shift workers.
- Conditions
- Shift Work, Eating Behaviors
- Being tested
- Time Restricted Eating
- Keywords
- Shift Worker Health, dietary intervention, time restricted eating, feasibility
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior, Intermittent Fasting
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Time Restricted EatingBehavioural
The intervention arm will consist of a time-restricted eating protocol with fasting between 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Ad libitum eating will be allowed outside these times and the protocol will be administered during day and night shifts over a 2 week period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Time Restricted Eating | Experimental | Participants will follow a time-restricted eating diet during day and night shifts over 2 weeks Receives: Behavioral: Time Restricted Eating |
| Control Arm | No intervention | Participants will follow their usual eating patterns without restrictions during day and night shifts over 2 weeks |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Recruitment and Participation Rate)
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics:
Recruitment and participation rate (%) will be assessed as the percentage of participants randomized from the screened population.
Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
Measured: From enrolment to end of treatment at 2 weeks
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Adherence Rate)
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics:
Adherence rate (%) percentage of participants who comply with the TRE protocol over a 2-week period, determined using self-reports Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
Measured: Two weeks
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Study Completion Rate)
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics:
Study completion rate (%) percentage of participants who complete the 2-week study period without dropping out.
Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
Measured: Two weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Blood glucose levels during the 2-week study period
- Average 24-hour glucose levels;
- Nocturnal glucose levels;
- Sleep time glucose levels;
- Day and night shift levels.
Measured: 2 weeks
Facilitators and barriers associated with adherence to time restricted eating
Only in the intervention arm, participants will be asked questions about issues about eating patterns during the time restricted eating including barriers and facilitators for maintaining the fasting period.
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Nov 2024
- Study start24 Mar 2025
- Primary completion10 Jul 2025
- Study completion1 Sep 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Shift WorkStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Open label trial assessing a behavioral eating intervention
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 31 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Christopher J Gordon, PhD, Principal investigator, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Macquarie University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06686667
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/ETH01526
- Acronym
- TREsh
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 4 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 22 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: All data will be dei-dentified using a unique study ID.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Overnight Time Restricted Eating on Glucose Regulation in Rotating Shift Workers - A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06686667
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TREsh / 2024/ETH01526
- Conditions
- Shift Work, Eating Behaviors
- Keywords
- Shift Worker Health, dietary intervention, time restricted eating, feasibility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 31 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Woolcock Institute of Medical ResearchUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
- Study start
- 24 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this clinical trial is to assess whether it is feasible for shift workers to follow a time-restricted eating diet. The trial will investigate the impact of time-restricted eating on blood glucose levels during day and night shifts both with and without the time-restricted eating diet.
The trial aims are:
- Is it feasible for shift workers to adhere to a night time time-restricted eating protocol?
- How does time-restricted eating affect blood glucose levels during the day and night shifts and over the whole day?
Detailed description
Shift work is an essential component of modern workforces, with about 20% of the workforce regularly engaged in shift work. Research has shown shift workers are at higher risk of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic disease, compared to day-only workers. Specifically, evidence shows eating overnight significantly increases the risk of metabolic syndrome. We also know eating patterns of shift workers and non-shift workers are different with evidence from our research showing shift workers engaged in night shift change their eating behaviors compared to day shifts. With a substantial proportion of the workforce involved in shift work, understanding the health challenges is crucial for developing targeted interventions and promoting a healthier shift working population.
Despite the need for behavioural eating interventions in shift workers, there is a lack of studies examining how these eating interventions would be implemented in real world contexts. Some dietary interventions related to quantity, quality and timing of food in shift workers have been reported, including limiting the quantity of food with various macronutrient restriction and low-calorie meal replacements, improving the quality of food with dietary advice/counselling, and promoting healthier food choices with variable results.
With recent recognition of the timing of food consumption being an important factor of metabolic regulation, time restricted eating (TRE) offers a viable strategy for improving metabolic health. TRE is a chrono-nutritional strategy involving close alignment of meal timing with typical circadian physiology over 24-hour periods. Typically, this involves an eating window of approximately 8 hours, with no eating during the night. Evidence shows TRE improves alignment of the fasting/eating cycle with the central circadian pacemaker and initiating nutrient-sensing pathways to ensure nutrient homeostasis. Research has shown TRE is an effective chrono-nutritional intervention for weight reduction, improvements in HbA1c and insulin levels, reduced insulin resistance or enhanced insulin sensitivity, improved glucose tolerance and reduced mean fasting glucose and improved quality of life. However, using TRE has not been examined extensively in shift workers in real world settings.
A recent narrative review found only three studies had investigated TRE as a diet strategy for shift workers under real-life conditions and these studies were conducted in populations with limited exposure to shift work situations (e.g. rotating shift work). Therefore, research is required that investigates the feasibility of TRE during night shifts in rotating shift workers.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Open label trial assessing a behavioral eating intervention
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Time Restricted Eating | Experimental | Behavioral: Time Restricted EatingParticipants will follow a time-restricted eating diet during day and night shifts over 2 weeks |
| Control Arm | No intervention | –Participants will follow their usual eating patterns without restrictions during day and night shifts over 2 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 23 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Healthcare professionals engaged in rotating shift work, including night shifts;
- Aged 23-60 years;
- At least 12 months experience in shift work;
- Willing to wear continuous glucose monitor sensors;
- Willing to engage in time restricted eating.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Diagnosis of diabetes (Type 1 or 2), any bariatric surgery, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, endocrine disorders affecting glucose metabolism, current or history of eating disorder, any liver, kidney, or coronary heart disease, obese (BMI>35) or underweight (BMI< 18) or any severe or unstable chronic medical conditions or cancers;
- Currently taking medications known to interact with glucose metabolism, i.e. thyroxin, insulin sensitizers, glucocorticoids, or anti-depressants, weight loss medication;
- Undertaking current structured or restrictive dietary plan;
- Shift workers who routinely do not eat between 23:00 and 06:00 hours during night shift;
- Current or planned pregnancy or currently breast feeding;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Time Restricted EatingThe intervention arm will consist of a time-restricted eating protocol with fasting between 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Ad libitum eating will be allowed outside these times and the protocol will be administered during day and night shifts over a 2 week period. | Behavioural | Time Restricted Eating |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Recruitment and Participation Rate)
Time frame: From enrolment to end of treatment at 2 weeks
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics: Recruitment and participation rate (%) will be assessed as the percentage of participants randomized from the screened population. Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Adherence Rate)
Time frame: Two weeks
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics: Adherence rate (%) percentage of participants who comply with the TRE protocol over a 2-week period, determined using self-reports Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Study Completion Rate)
Time frame: Two weeks
Feasibility will be assessed through a composite of the following metrics: Study completion rate (%) percentage of participants who complete the 2-week study period without dropping out. Each component will be assessed separately but reported as contributing factors to the overall feasibility.
2 secondary outcomes
Blood glucose levels during the 2-week study period
Time frame: 2 weeks
Facilitators and barriers associated with adherence to time restricted eating
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. All data will be dei-dentified using a unique study ID.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christopher J Gordon, PhD principal investigator
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Macquarie University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Time Restricted Eating in people with Shift Work and Eating Behaviors, run by Woolcock Institute of Medical Research at 1 site in Australia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Australia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of time-restricted eating (TRE) among shift workers (Recruitment and Participation Rate) (time frame: From enrolment to end of treatment at 2 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Dec 2025.