Depot-Dependent Impact of Time-Restricted Feeding on Adipose Tissue Metabolism in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Male Mice

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is known to be an effective strategy for weight loss and metabolic health. TRF’s effect on metabolism is complex and likely acts on various pathways within multiple tissues. Adipose tissue plays a key role in systemic homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. Adipose tissue dysregulation has been causally associated with metabolic disorders in obesity. However, it is largely unknown how TRF impacts metabolic pathways such as lipolysis, lipogenesis, and thermogenesis within different in adipose tissue depots in obesity. To determine this, we conducted a 10-week TRF regimen in male mice, previously on a long-term high fat diet (HFD) and subjected the mice to TRF of a HFD for 10 h per day or ad libitum. The TRF regimen showed reduction in weight gain. TRF restored HFD-induced impairment of adipogenesis and increased lipid storage in white adipose tissues. TRF also showed a depot-dependent effect in lipid metabolism and restored ATP-consuming futile cycle of lipogenesis and lipolysis that is impaired by HFD within epididymal adipose tissue, but not inguinal fat depot. We demonstrate that TRF may be a beneficial option as a dietary and lifestyle intervention in lowering bodyweight and improving adipose tissue metabolism.