TIME-RESTRICTED EATING IN MASLD: THE IMPERATIVE TO PRESERVE MUSCLE MASS AND PREVENT WEIGHT CYCLING FOR SUSTAINABLE CLINICAL BENEFIT.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Time-restricted eating (TRE) and calorie restriction (CR) are effective lifestyle interventions for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, sarcopenia and weight cycling remain underappreciated threats that may offset their long-term benefits. This short communication reviews current evidence and clinical implications of these challenges. Sarcopenia, prevalent in MASLD, aggravates insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and fibrosis progression. Recent randomized controlled trials, including Oh et al., reported significant muscle mass loss during TRE and CR interventions. Additionally, weight regain, affecting up to 60% of patients post-intervention, induces metabolic stress, promotes hepatic fat re-accumulation, and may accelerate disease progression. MASLD interventions should integrate muscle-preserving strategies-resistance exercise, adequate protein intake-and long-term weight maintenance support. Future trials must measure functional muscle outcomes, assess fibrosis progression, and evaluate sustainable behavioral strategies to prevent weight cycling.