An observational study in China linked eight-hour, time-restricted eating to a 91 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death, yet experts say not so fast.

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China presented findings at a recent American Heart Association (AHA) meeting in Chicago questioning the safety of time-restricted eating (TRE), a type of intermittent fasting that has recently gained popularity.

The observational study of over 20,000 U.S. adults found that those who limited their eating to less than eight hours per day had a 91 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death compared with those who ate for 12 to 16 hours per day. The results from the study were presented in March at the AHA’s Lifestyle Scientific Sessions meeting. Still, the AHA has only published the study’s abstract, a precursor to a study that only briefly describes its findings. With minimal information, many health experts are speculating about the exact details of the study protocol and its results.
Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a board-certified cardiologist, told The Epoch Times in an email, “Although the headlines from this abstract are grabbing attention, the actual information from this study is quite limited.”