The effects of intermittent fasting on nighttime blood pressure levels

Abstract

Hypertension, a preventable disease with a high prevalence, is frequently seen in obese patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of an intermittent fasting regimen on nighttime blood pressure levels. Patients who applied to Karabuk University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital Cardiology and Family Medicine Polyclinic between January and March 2021 and were followed up for 24 hours on an outpatient basis were included in this self-controlled interventional study. Patients underwent a second 24-hour Holter blood pressure follow-up after one month of diet, and the results were compared. The study was conducted with 30 subjects who adhered to a one-month intermittent fasting regimen. 63.3% of the patients were male, and the mean age was 54.60 ± 9.71 years. One month later, 13 patients whose nighttime blood pressure improved were assigned to Group 1 and 17 patients to Group 2. There was no important variance between the groups in terms of gender, age, height, waist circumference and BMI (p=0.609, p=0.105 and p=0.087, in order of). Mean VA and BSA were considerably lower in Group 2 (p=0.027 and p=0.045, in order of). HT duration was longer in Group 1 (p=0.001). There was no important variance between the groups in terms of smoking, alcohol use, average daily sleep time, salt intake awareness and exercise habits. The rate of snacking habits in Group 2 was statistically considerably higher (p=0.033). Intermittent fasting may be beneficial in preventing nocturnal hypertension.