The Role of the Circadian System in Binge Eating Disorder (CHRONO-BE)

Binge eating disorder (BED) shows prominent circadian features that suggest a delay in circadian phase, and preliminary evidence shows binge eating may be responsive to chronobiological interventions, implicating a circadian system dysfunction in its pathophysiology. What remains lacking, however, is comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of circadian system dysfunction in BED, and whether this dysfunction represents a therapeutic target in BED. There is therefore a critical need to characterize circadian system dysfunction in BED, and evaluate it as a potential therapeutic target. Without such information, the understanding on the role of the circadian system in BED and its potential as a new therapeutic target will remain limited.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Binge-Eating Disorder; Circadian Rhythm Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Melatonin (3hrs before DLMO); Device: Morning light version 1; Dietary supplement: Placebo (3hrs before DLMO); Device: Morning light version 2

Detailed Description

The overall objective of the research strategy will be to characterize circadian system dysfunction in BED and its potential as a therapeutic target. The central hypothesis is that a circadian system dysfunction (phase delay) plays a role in the pathophysiology of BED, and that advancing the circadian phase will improve BED symptoms. To attain the overall objectives, the following specific aims will be pursued in two phases:

Specific aim 1) To characterize circadian system dysfunction in BED (Phase 1). Circadian system function will be evaluated in 80 adult (18 to 50yrs) obese subjects, 40 with BED and 40 without BED as a control group matched by age, body mass index (BMI), and gender, during a two-week observational phase. Based on preliminary data, the working hypothesis is that DLMO (the primary outcome measure) and secondary circadian parameters (i.e., locomotor activity acrophase) will occur later in the BED group compared with the control group, and a later circadian phase will be associated with worse BED clinical features.

Specific aim 2) To evaluate circadian phase as a predictive biomarker for response to a chronobiological intervention and evidence of circadian system target engagement in BED (Phase 2). A mechanistic clinical trial with a 4-week double-blinded, randomized, sham/placebo controlled study design will evaluate the effect of a combination of morning lights+Melatonin/placebo on the circadian system and eating behavior on 40 BED subjects that complete phase 1. Subjects will be randomized to receive a combination of morning lights at usual wake time + Melatonin(3mg) or placebo (3hr before DLMO). Based on preliminary data, the working hypothesis is that a chronobiological intervention will induce a greater DLMO advance (primary outcome measure), greater decrease in binge eating days/week (secondary outcome measure), and change in exploratory metabolic outcomes. In addition, a later baseline DLMO (secondary outcome) will predict change in binge eating days/week and metabolic parameters in response to a chronobiological intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 43
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Mason, Ohio, United States, 45040
      • Lindner Center of HOPE / University of Cincinnati

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) group inclusion criteria:

1. Age 18-50 years, inclusive
2. Female or male
3. BMI ≥30 kg/m2
4. Current BED diagnoses by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria confirmed by Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-5)
5. Moderate or severe BED (≥3 binge eating episodes/week in the past 14 days)
6. No current pharmacological treatment for BED, or if receiving treatment dose stable for ≥ 2 months
7. If receiving psychotherapy, intervention must be stable for ≥ 3 months and agree to continue during the study
8. Other psychiatric disorders will be permitted as long as they are not more than moderate in severity
9. Using an effective contraceptive method (participants of childbearing potential)

BED exclusion criteria:

1. Current severe comorbid psychopathology (i.e; mania, severe major depressive disorder (MDD), psychosis)
2. Current (past month) substance use disorder (caffeine and nicotine allowed)
3. Chronic use of bright light therapy (BLT) or melatonin in the past month
4. Current contraindication or history of melatonin allergy or non-tolerability;
5. Current contraindication or history of BLT non-tolerability
6. Significant risk of suicide according to Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) or clinical judgment, or suicidal behavior in the past year
7. Routine shift work (night work) in the past month
8. Travel across more than 1 time zone in the past two weeks
9. Current treatment with medication known to affect the circadian system or melatonin measurements, including: B-blockers, hypnotic sedatives, anticoagulants, antidiabetes drugs, oral corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressant medication
10. Current lesions or bleeding in the oral cavity, as it may alter DLMO measurements
11. Clinically significant unstable medical conditions as judged by the clinician, including: seizure or neurodegenerative disorders, thyroid conditions, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease
12. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
13. Participation in a clinical trial in the past month
14. Suspected intelligence quotient (IQ) <80
15. Any other clinically relevant reason as judged by the clinician

Control group inclusion criteria:

1. Age 18-50 years, inclusive
2. Female or male;
3. BMI ≥30 kg/m2
4. No current or lifetime history of BED or bulimia nervosa diagnoses confirmed by SCID-5
5. No current (past month) psychiatric diagnosis according to SCID-5, including substance use disorders (caffeine and nicotine allowed)
6. No current psychiatric or psychological treatment, or if receiving treatment dose/intervention stable for ≥ 2 months

Control group exclusion criteria:

1. Clinically significant unstable medical conditions as judged by the clinician, including: seizure or neurodegenerative disorders, thyroid conditions, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease
2. Chronic treatment with BLT or melatonin in the past month
3. Routine shift work (work at night) in the past month
4. Travel across more than 1 time zone in the past two weeks
5. Significant risk of suicide according to CSSRS or clinical judgment, or suicidal behavior in the past year
6. Current treatment with medication known to affect the circadian system or melatonin measurements, including, B-blockers, hypnotic sedatives, anticoagulants, antidiabetes drugs, oral corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressant medication
7. Current lesions or bleeding in the oral cavity, as it may alter DLMO measurements
8. Pregnant or breastfeeding
9. Participation in a clinical trial in the past month
10. Suspected IQ<80
11. Any other clinically relevant reason as judged by the clinician

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Morning light version+ Melatonin; Morning light version and melatonin 3mg capsule (3hrs before DLMO)	Dietary supplement: Melatonin (3hrs before DLMO); Melatonin 3mg (3hrs before DLMO); Device: Morning light version 1; Morning light version
Other: Morning light version+ Placebo; Morning light version and placebo capsule (3hrs before DLMO)	Dietary supplement: Placebo (3hrs before DLMO); Placebo capsule (3hrs before DLMO); Device: Morning light version 2; Morning light version

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase 1 Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO)	Difference in mean DLMO (measured in time) between subjects with binge eating disorder (BED) and control subjects without BED.	Phase 1 baseline (visit 0)
Phase 2 Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO)	Differences in DLMO (measured in time) change from baseline to endpoint between two intervention groups will be analyzed using an ANCOVA model with age as a covariate.	Phase 2 baseline (visit 0) to endpoint, on average one month.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase 1 Locomotor activity acrophase	Difference in mean locomotor activity acrophase (7 days) measured in time between BED and control subjects without BED	Phase 1 baseline (visit 0)
Phase 1 Midline Estimating Statistic of Rhythm (MESOR)	Difference in mean MESOR (7 days) measured in time between BED and control subjects without BED	Phase 1 baseline (visit 0)
Phase 1 MEQ	Difference in mean Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire scores (MEQ) between BED and control subjects without BED. MEQ score range 18 to 86, lower scores indicate more eveningness, higher scores indicate more morningness.	Phase 1 baseline (visit 0)
Phase 1 Association between DLMO and binge eating days/week	The association between DLMO (measured in time) and binge eating days/week in BED subjects.	Phase 1 baseline (visit 0)
Phase 2 Binge eating days/week	Differences in Binge eating days/week from baseline to endpoint between groups will be analyzed using an ANCOVA model with age as a covariate.	Phase 2 baseline (visit 0) to endpoint, on average one month.
Phase 2 Locomotor activity acrophase	Differences in locomotor activity acrophase from baseline to endpoint between groups will be analyzed using an ANCOVA model with age as a covariate.	Phase 2 baseline (visit 0) to endpoint, on average one month.
Phase 2 baseline (visit 0) to endpoint	Differences in MESOR (Midline Estimating Statistic of Rhythm) from baseline to endpoint between groups will be analyzed using an ANCOVA model with age as a covariate.	Phase 2 baseline (visit 0) to endpoint, on average one month.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Cincinnati
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Lindner Center of HOPE
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Francisco Romo-Nava, MD, PhD, University of Cincinnati/ Lindner Center of HOPE

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 20, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Binge eating; Circadian
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Hyperphagia; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Bulimia; Binge-Eating Disorder; Chronobiology Disorders; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Indoles; Tryptamines; Melatonin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-0345; 1K23MH120503-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: However, individual participant data may be shared with other researchers upon request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No