Nighttime synchronization of eating and your circadian clock
Official title: Nighttime Synchrony of Your Nutrition and Circadian Health: The N-Sync Study
Run by University of Utah · NCT07329283 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether changing light exposure and when you eat during short sleep periods changes metabolism in healthy adults aged 18–35 who normally sleep 7–9 hours per night.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Utah Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 19, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2031 |
| Registry record updated | January 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07329283 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy men and women age 18–35 with BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 who habitually sleep 7–9 hours per night and have no major medical, psychiatric, or sleep disorders.
✕Probably not a fit
People with diabetes, significant organ disease, BMI outside the specified range, recent shift work, pregnancy, smoking, heavy alcohol use, or recent medication use are excluded and are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, in-lab crossover trial has each participant complete three 5-night sleep-restriction conditions with different timing of light and food, separated by ambulatory baseline monitoring. Participants will follow one of two arm orders so everyone completes all three conditions (central and peripheral alignment, central clock misalignment, or peripheral misalignment). After each sleep-restriction segment participants undergo an intravenous glucose tolerance test and a constant routine protocol to map 24-hour metabolic rhythms. The full protocol includes 6–8 clinic visits, three overnight stays, surveys, and medical tests over about 4–6 months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to practical timing recommendations for light exposure and meals that protect metabolism during periods of restricted sleep.
How similar studies have gone: Prior circadian and meal-timing studies have shown that misaligned light and food timing can change metabolic measures, but testing these effects specifically during controlled sleep restriction in a three-arm crossover format is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age: 18-35 years old; equal numbers of men and women 2. Body Mass Index (BMI): 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 3. Sleep Habits: habitual self-reported average total sleep time (TST) 7-9 hours per night for prior 6 months Exclusion Criteria: 1. Clinically diagnosed sleep disorder or apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 2. Evidence of significant organ system dysfunction or disease (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) 3. Fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dL 4. Major psychiatric illness (e.g., major depressive disorder) 5. Cancer that has been in remission less than 5 years 6. History of shift-work in prior year 7. Weight change \>5% of body weight over prior six months 8. Currently following a weight-loss program 9. Menopause 10. Pregnant/nursing 11. Greater than 5-day variation in menstrual cycle length month-to-month 12. Currently smoking 13. Alcohol intake \>14 drinks/week or \>3 drinks/day. 14. Use of prescription medications (except oral contraceptives) within one month prior to or during in-lab visits. 15. Consumption of illegal drugs or \>500mg per day of caffeine.
Where it's running
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College of Health Research Complex - University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christopher Depner, PhD — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Victoria Miranda, MS
- Email: SleepStudyParticipant@utah.edu
- Phone: 385-309-0551
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.