Background
Chrononutrition, the strategic alignment of eating patterns with the body’s biological rhythms, has gained increasing attention as a potential means of improving metabolic health. Time-restricted eating (TRE), a key chrononutrition approach, may help regulate metabolism, yet its effectiveness in older adults remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of TRE and related chrononutrition interventions on metabolic health biomarkers among older adults aged 60 years and above. The primary outcomes assessed included body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus) to identify randomised controlled trials and pre–post intervention studies published between 2015 and 2025. Study quality was appraised using Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, and pooled effect sizes (Cohen’s d) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results
Seven studies, including both RCTs and pre–post designs, comprising a total of 1,086 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses indicated small, non-significant reductions in BMI (Cohen’s d = –0.10, 95% CI: –0.24 to 0.03, p = 0.14) and fasting glucose (Cohen’s d = –0.18, 95% CI: –0.61 to 0.25, p = 0.41). No statistically significant changes were observed for SBP, DBP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, or LDL (all p > 0.05). Heterogeneity across studies was minimal, and findings were consistent between RCTs and pre–post analyses.

Conclusion
Time-restricted eating appears to be a safe and feasible dietary approach for older adults; however, it does not produce statistically significant improvements in key metabolic biomarkers compared to control or baseline conditions. The modest effects observed may reflect the complex interplay of biological, behavioural, and sociocultural factors influencing chrononutrition in ageing populations. More diverse and methodologically robust studies are needed to clarify TRE’s role in promoting metabolic health and reducing chronic disease risks among older adults.