Why is this study being done?
This research is being done to study how eating dinner at different times affects your health. The timing of meals may be important for weight control and heart health. Eating later in the day is linked with risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease, but doctors do not understand why late eating might lead to these problems.
We hypothesize that eating dinner at 10 PM, close to bed time will cause problems such as higher fat and sugar levels in the blood during sleep. In this study, we will see what happens to your metabolism when you have dinner at 10:00 PM compared with a night when you have dinner at 6:00 PM. We will also test how the different dinner times affect your sleep quality and your metabolism the next morning
How many people will be in this study?
We are looking for 20 healthy volunteers to complete this study.
Where do I go for the study?
This study is at the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus. On your first visit, you will go to the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center (JHAAC), 4th floor to meet with our study team. On the study visit, you will go to the Clinical Research Unit. The JHAAC is located at 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore MD 21224. The Clinical research unit (CRU) is at 4940 Eastern Avenue, 301 Building, Baltimore, MD 21224.
How long do I have to stay in the research unit and what can I do there?
You will check in on 8:00 PM on day 1, and leave at noon on day 3, which is a total time of about 40 hours in the research unit. While you are in the unit, you can do work, walk, and watch TV. You will have a private room and access to a lounge area.
What kind of food will I be served?
Our research nutrition team prepares tasty meals that reflect a typical Western diet. On day 2, for your Routine Dinner, you will receive breakfast (8 AM), lunch (1 PM), dinner (6 PM), and a snack (10 PM). Or, if it’s a Late Dinner visit, you will receive breakfast (8 AM), lunch (1 PM), snack (6 PM), and dinner (10 PM). On day 3, you will be served breakfast. You will not be allowed to bring or eat your own food and snacks during the study.
What are the risks of the study?
Blood tests: Taking blood may cause discomfort, bleeding or bruising where the needle enters the body. In rare cases, it may result in fainting. There is a small risk of infection. The amount of blood we are taking is less than the amount of blood collected during blood donation.
DEXA Scan: A DEXA measures your bone density and body fat content. A DEXA scan is similar to an X-ray, but uses much less radiation than a normal chest X-ray (about 10%). X-rays and gamma rays can damage cells, but at low doses, the body is usually able to repair these cells.
Isotope ingestion: The isotopes you receive are naturally occurring compounds, and are not radioactive.
Can I get the results of the tests involved in this study?
Yes. We will send you the results by mail or e-mail as soon as all of them are available. We can also send the results to your provider at your request for future reference.
How does payment for the study work?
You will be paid $600 for completing all parts of this study. You will be paid $250 for each study visit and $25 for a DEXA scan. You will receive parking reimbursement. You will receive an additional $75 at the end of the study, if you come to all your visits without schedule changes, for a total possible of $600. You will receive a check by mail 3-4 weeks after both of your visits are finished.
