Targeting Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Therapeutic Strategies and the Emerging Role of Time-Restricted Feeding
- 1Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
Abstract
Time-restricted feeding has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for the management of metabolic disorders, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Time-restricted feeding involves restricting food intake to a specific daily eating window while fasting for the remaining hours within 24 h. Furthermore, time-restricted feeding can be combined with specific dietary modifications to enhance its therapeutic benefits. Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been strongly linked to gut dysbiosis, adipose tissue dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Given the rising global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, early intervention strategies are becoming increasingly important. Prediabetes, as an intermediate stage preceding type 2 diabetes mellitus, provides a critical opportunity to understand the mechanisms underlying disease progression and to develop effective preventive strategies. However, the effects of time-restricted feeding on gut dysbiosis, adipose tissue dysfunction, dysregulated inflammatory responses, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and the risk of acute pancreatitis at prediabetic state remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this review summarizes the current evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of time-restricted feeding in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its related complications, while highlighting areas that require further investigation.
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BibTeX
@article{msane2026targeting,
title = {{Targeting Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Therapeutic Strategies and the Emerging Role of Time-Restricted Feeding}},
author = {Sthembiso Msane and Andile Khathi},
journal = {Cells},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/cells15191831},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/19/1831},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Targeting Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Therapeutic Strategies and the Emerging Role of Time-Restricted Feeding
AU - Sthembiso Msane
AU - Andile Khathi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Cells
DO - 10.3390/cells15191831
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/19/1831
AB - Time-restricted feeding has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for the management of metabolic disorders, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Time-restricted feeding involves restricting food intake to a specific daily eating window while fasting for the remaining hours within 24 h. Furthermore, time-restricted feeding can be combined with specific dietary modifications to enhance its therapeutic benefits. Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been strongly linked to gut dysbiosis, adipose tissue dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Given the rising global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, early intervention strategies are becoming increasingly important. Prediabetes, as an intermediate stage preceding type 2 diabetes mellitus, provides a critical opportunity to understand the mechanisms underlying disease progression and to develop effective preventive strategies. However, the effects of time-restricted feeding on gut dysbiosis, adipose tissue dysfunction, dysregulated inflammatory responses, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and the risk of acute pancreatitis at prediabetic state remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this review summarizes the current evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of time-restricted feeding in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its related complications, while highlighting areas that require further investigation.
SN - 2073-4409
ER -