DiAL Health pilot protocol: adaptive versus traditional calorie restriction and time-restricted eating
This protocol describes a 24-week randomized pilot in 90 healthy adults aged 22–45 with BMI 22.0–29.9, comparing adaptive, app-supported calorie restriction or time-restricted eating with traditional versions and a nonintervention control; feasibility is primary, biological age and metabolic syndrome score are secondary. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The 24-week randomized pilot plans to enroll 90 healthy adults aged 22–45 with BMI 22.0–29.9 into five groups: nonintervention control, traditional or adaptive time-restricted eating with an 8-hour window, and traditional or adaptive calorie restriction targeting a 25% energy-intake reduction. [1]
Primary outcomes are feasibility measures (adherence, retention, satisfaction); secondary outcomes are the Klemera-Doubal biological age composite and the metabolic syndrome score, with patient-reported outcomes and hallmarks of aging as exploratory. [1]
The protocol states that calorie restriction and time-restricted eating consistently improve biomarkers of aging and health span, but long-term adherence remains difficult; technology-enabled support is proposed to improve engagement. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Randomized controlled pilot trial protocol (abstract)
- Population / context
- 90 healthy adults aged 22 to 45 years with BMI 22.0 to 29.9 kg/m² (planned enrollment).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 25, 2026
Five-arm pilot in healthy adults aged 22–45
The DiAL Health trial is a 24-week, parallel-arm, randomized controlled pilot that plans to enroll 90 healthy adults aged 22 to 45 years with a body mass index of 22.0 to 29.9 kg/m². Participants are assigned to one of five groups: a nonintervention control, traditional or adaptive time-restricted eating with an 8-hour eating window, and traditional or adaptive calorie restriction targeting a 25% reduction in energy intake. Traditional arms emphasize in-person counseling; adaptive arms use mobile health technology, remote monitoring via digital tools and just-in-time adaptive intervention feedback that quantifies eating behaviors in real time and delivers tailored adherence prompts.
Supporting source [1]
Feasibility primary; biological age and metabolic score secondary
The primary outcomes concern feasibility: adherence, retention and participant satisfaction. Secondary outcomes assess preliminary clinical efficacy using the Klemera-Doubal method as a composite measure of biological age and the metabolic syndrome score as a marker of health span. Patient-reported outcomes and hallmarks of aging are collected as exploratory outcomes. Effect sizes will be estimated to guide selection of primary end points for future large-scale trials. The protocol states that calorie restriction and time-restricted eating consistently improve biomarkers of aging and health span, yet long-term adherence remains difficult; technology-enabled support is proposed as a way to improve engagement.
Supporting source [1]
Protocol only: no results reported yet
This abstract presents the design of the DiAL Health pilot trial, registered as NCT05549362, and reports no results. It is therefore not evidence that adaptive calorie restriction or time-restricted eating works better than traditional versions, nor that either delays biological aging or extends health span in people. The stated aims are to evaluate comparative feasibility and potential efficacy and to identify outcome measures suitable for larger, long-term studies. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a trial protocol with no results, so it cannot show that adaptive strategies outperform traditional ones or that either delays biological aging in humans.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Redman LM, Peterson CM, Dutton GR, Drews KL, Broyles ST, Dubin R, Rogers LQ, Champagne CM, Villareal DT, Hsia DS, Cabre HE, Falkenhain K, Spring KE, Diktas HE, Kennedy SF, Martin CK. · europepmc.org · July 25, 2026