Time-restricted eating combined with cardiac rehabilitation for heart disease

Time Restricted Eating and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Not applicable Interventional University of Toronto · NCT05075317

This study is testing if combining time-restricted eating with cardiac rehab can help people with heart disease improve their fitness and lose fat better than rehab alone.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Toronto Academic / other
Locations1 site (Toronto, Ontario)
Trial IDNCT05075317 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the feasibility and safety of a nutrition intervention called time-restricted eating (TRE) in conjunction with standard cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary artery disease. Participants will follow an 8-hour eating window each day, allowing for a 16-hour fasting period, to assess adherence and potential cardiovascular health benefits. The study aims to determine if TRE can enhance the outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation by improving cardiorespiratory fitness and reducing fat mass compared to rehabilitation alone.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include men and women eligible for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation for coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of eating disorders, type 1 diabetes, or those unable to adhere to the study's dietary requirements may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to improved cardiovascular health and rehabilitation outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease.

How similar studies have performed: While time-restricted eating has shown benefits in other populations, this specific application in cardiac rehabilitation is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women who are referred and eligible for either the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program for coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease
* willing to accept random assignment and complete the study assessments
* Equal numbers of men and women will be recruited

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to complete the consent form and communicate in English
* Self-reported history of an eating disorder
* Current or recent (1 year) pregnancy or breast feeding
* Body mass index \<18.5 kg/m\^2 or clinical signs of cachexia
* Contraindications or inability to perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing
* Type 1 diabetes
* Type 2 diabetes that requires exogenous insulin
* Working night or rotating shifts
* Eating window \<12 hours or consistently eating less than 3 meals/day in the past 3 months

Where this trial is running

Toronto, Ontario

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Coronary Artery DiseaseTime-Restricted EatingCardiac RehabilitationCardiorespiratory FitnessCaloric Restriction
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.