Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects 5% of males over 65 years of age, with a devastating mortality rate of 80% upon rupture. There is no treatment to slow down the progression of AAA. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) involves restricting eating to a certain number of hours per day, typically within a 4- to 12-hour window. TRF has been shown to improve cardiometabolic health in patients with metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TRF in a mouse model of AAA.

AAA was induced by topical elastase application in 10 weeks old male WT C57BL/6 mice. β-Aminopropionitrile fumarate was administered post-surgery in drinking water to enhance AAA growth. Seven days post-surgery, the animals were randomly divided into control and early TRF (eTRF) groups. eTRF mice had access to food from zeitgeber time (ZT) 12 to 20. Organs were collected after 2 weeks of eTRF.

eTRF improved liver function and lowered circulating triglyceride and cholesterol levels. eTRF increased AMPK and eIF2α activities and reduced mTOR activity in the liver, which is typical of dietary interventions. eTRF reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and genes associated with matrix remodeling in the AAA wall, resulting in decreased AAA size, reduced elastin degradation, vascular smooth muscle cell loss, and macrophage infiltration.

In conclusion, eTRF has a beneficial effect on the progression of AAA likely through reductions in inflammation and vascular remodeling.