The project is mainly based on classic field trial study design to compare impacts of different fasting patterns on host metabolic health. Under the condition of controlled diet background, individual N-of-1 study design is also organically integrated to compare personalized responses for standard meal tests. Participants will be required to wear continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for 14 days. The diet intervention will be carried out after wearing CGM on Day 1. Then, all participants will be divided into three groups: energy-restricted diet (ERD), 18:6 time-restricted diet (TRD), and normal diet (ND). During Day 3 to Day 12, ERD restricts daily total energy intake within 1200-1500 kcal without meal timing limits, while TRD restricts the daily feeding window from 10:00 to 16:00, without total energy intake restriction. ND will maintain volunteers' original eating habits and rhythms as the control group. Individual N-of-1 trial design will be employed to all participants during Day 3 to Day 12 to compare the difference of postprandial glucose response to white bread or plain oats. These two standard breakfasts will appear in pseudo-random order. The TRD group needs to adjust the breakfast time to after 10:00 in the intervention periods.
This is a dietary intervention study, which aims to explore different diet challenges for glucose metabolism, including carbohydrates and fasting dietary pattern. Considering the glucose responses to the same food are largely heterogeneous among people, this study integrates the concepts of precision nutrition and N-of-1 design. The study also aims to discover the different impact of the time-restricted diet (TRD) and the energy-restricted diet (ERD) on host metabolic health and our hair growth.