<![CDATA[Introduction: Benzene exposure is a major cause of hematotoxicity, which can trigger leukopenia and immunosuppression through oxidative stress. This study aimed to analyze and compare the attenuation effect of Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) with different durations (12 and 8-hours) initiated prior to and during benzene exposure on the total white blood cell (TWBC) count and differential WBC count profile in Wistar rat. Methods: This was a purely experimental study, involving 28 rats which were divided randomly into 4 groups (KN fed ad libitum without benzene exposure; K0 fed ad libitum and exposed to 300 ppm benzene; X1 12-hour TRF and exposed to 300 ppm benzene; X2 8-hour TRF and exposed to 300 ppm benzene). TWBC and differential WBC count profiles were calculated using an automated hematology analyzer. Results and Discussion: Exposure to 300 ppm benzene vapor in K0 significantly decreased TWBC and absolute lymphocyte counts compared to KN. TWBC in groups X1 and X2 were within the normal range and significantly higher than in K0. Group X2 showed a significant increase in absolute neutrophil counts compared to K0, which is suspected to be an indication of starvation stress due to the longer fasting window. Conclusions: 12 or 8-hour TRF initiated prior to and during benzene exposure, successfully attenuated the decrease in TWBC and lymphocyte counts caused by benzene exposure. There were no significant differences in all WBC parameters between 12 and 8-hour TRF. Further research with oxidative stress biomarker measurements is needed to validate the cellular mechanism of TRF's attenuating effect.]]>
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