title: A controlled trial of reduced meal frequency without caloric restriction in healthy, normal-weight, middle-aged adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although consumption of 3 meals/d is the most common pattern of eating in industrialized countries, a scientific rationale for this meal frequency with respect to optimal health is lacking. A diet with less meal frequency can improve the health and extend the lifespan of laboratory animals, but its effect on humans has never been tested.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A pilot study was conducted to establish the effects of a reduced-meal-frequency diet on health indicators in healthy, normal-weight adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a randomized crossover design with two 8-wk treatment periods. During the treatment periods, subjects consumed all of the calories needed for weight maintenance in either 3 meals/d or 1 meal/d.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects who completed the study maintained their body weight within 2 kg of their initial weight throughout the 6-mo period. There were no significant effects of meal frequency on heart rate, body temperature, or most of the blood variables measured. However, when consuming 1 meal/d, subjects had a significant increase in hunger; a significant modification of body composition, including reductions in fat mass; significant increases in blood pressure and in total, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations; and a significant decrease in concentrations of cortisol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal-weight subjects are able to comply with a 1 meal/d diet. When meal frequency is decreased without a reduction in overall calorie intake, modest changes occur in body composition, some cardiovascular disease risk factors, and hematologic variables. Diurnal variations may affect outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kim S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Stote
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: G Keith
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: William V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Rumpler
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strycula
authors.forename: Samer S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Donald K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: Dan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mattson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol; D006854:Hydrocortisone