Midnight munchies: new diet may shield night workers from harm

NCT ID NCT04868526

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a carefully designed diet can prevent or reduce the negative health effects of night shift work. Twenty-four healthy adults will complete two inpatient stays, eating identical meals and providing blood, urine, saliva, stool, and rectal swab samples. Researchers will measure changes in glucose tolerance and gut microbiome composition to see if the dietary intervention helps.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
dietary intervention
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward simple dietary strategies to protect night workers from health problems like poor blood sugar control.
What could go wrong
This is a very small early-stage study (24 people) looking at short-term changes, not long-term health outcomes. Results may not apply to everyone.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Feeding Behavior

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.