Intermittent Fasting Diet Research Articles

Associations between dietary fatty acid and plasma fatty acid composition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: secondary analysis from a randomised trial with a hypoenergetic low-carbohydrate high-fat and intermittent fasting diet.

Dietary fatty acids (FA) affect metabolic risk factors. The aim of this study was to explore if changes in dietary fat intake during energy restriction were associated with plasma FA composition. The study also investigated if these changes were associated with changes in liver fat, liver stiffness and plasma lipids among persons with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dietary and plasma FA were investigated in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n 48) previously enrolled in a 12-week-long open-label randomised controlled trial comparing two energy-restricted diets: a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet and intermittent fasting diet (5:2), to a control group. Self-reported 3 d food diaries were used for FA intake, and plasma FA composition was analysed using GC. Liver fat content and stiffness were measured by MRI and transient elastography. Changes in intake of total FA (r 0·41; P = 0·005), SFA (r 0·38; P = 0·011) and MUFA (r 0·42; P = 0·004) were associated with changes in liver stiffness. Changes in plasma SFA (r 0·32; P = 0·032) and C16 : 1n-7 (r 0·33; P = 0·028) were positively associated with changes in liver fat, while total n-6 PUFA (r -0·33; P = 0·028) and C20 : 4n-6 (r -0·42; P = 0·005) were inversely associated. Changes in dietary SFA, MUFA, cholesterol and C20:4 were positively associated with plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Modifying the composition of dietary fats during dietary interventions causes changes in the plasma FA profile in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These changes are associated with changes in liver fat, stiffness, plasma cholesterol and TAG. Replacing SFA with PUFA may improve metabolic parameters in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients during weight loss treatment.

Major types of diets in the management of metabolic syndrome and obesity: a systematic review

Introduction: Excessive weight gain generates comorbidities, many of which are characterized as metabolic syndrome (MS), in which the individual, to be diagnosed, must present three or more metabolic or anthropometric changes such as increased waist circumference, systemic arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and reduced serum HDL levels. It is important to highlight the association of MS with cardiovascular diseases, increasing global mortality by approximately 1.5 times and cardiovascular mortality by approximately 2.5 times. In this sense, of the different types of diets such as the low-carb diet, very low-carb diet, and intermittent fasting diet, the traditional Brazilian diet, the DASH, and the Mediterranean diet stand out, as they present as the main therapeutic proposal in the treatment of MS. Objective: It was to carry out a systematic review to present the main types of diets in the management of metabolic syndrome, evaluating their effectiveness as a nutritional benefit in controlling health and quality of life. Methods: The PRISMA Platform systematic review rules were followed. The search was carried out from April to June 2024 in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE and AMSTAR-2 instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed appropriately. according to the Cochrane instrument. Results and Conclusion: 111 articles were found, and 30 were evaluated in full and included in this article, 21 of which were included in the systematic review. Considering the Cochrane tool for risk of bias, the global assessment resulted in 12 studies with a high risk of bias and 21 studies that did not reach GRADE and AMSTAR-2. Most studies showed homogeneity in their results, with X2=79.8%>50%. It was concluded that the traditional Brazilian diet, DASH, and the Mediterranean diet have in common the characteristics of plant-based diet varieties that incorporate natural foods and reduce ultra-processed foods. These diets have shown good results for human health through the prevention and treatment of obesity in its different life cycles, and there is also evidence of a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer in individuals with obesity. Furthermore, these diets promote a decrease in low-grade inflammation that affects individuals with obesity, having beneficial effects in reducing metabolic syndrome, even more so when added to physical activities. It has been shown that dietary factors can play a fundamental role both in the individual components and in the prevention and control of metabolic syndrome. Recent data associate the presence of metabolic syndrome with lower consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Effect of 5:2 intermittent fasting diet versus daily calorie restriction eating on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease-a randomized controlled trial.

Both 5:2 IF diet (intermittent fasting) and daily caloric restriction eating had been suggested for management of MAFLD (Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease), this study aimed to evaluate the effects of 5:2 IF diet on body weight and metabolic parameters in adults with MAFLD, in comparison to daily caloric restriction eating. This single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial included 60 patients with MAFLD, who were administered either a 5:2 IF diet limited calories consumed for 2 days each week with no restrictions on the remaining 5 (Group 5:2 IF diet) or a daily calorie restriction eating (Group daily calorie restriction). Fibrotouch-B instrument assessment, ultrasound assessment of hepatic steatosis, anthropometric indices and body composition analysis, blood sample measurements were conducted during two distinct visits: initially on the day of study commencement (T1), and subsequently at the conclusion of the 12-week intervention period (T2). In comparison to daily calorie restriction eating, the 5:2 IF diet significantly decreased the proportion of hepatic steatosis ≥moderate (29.6% vs. 59.3%, p = 0.028) and the degree of hepatic fibrosis F ≥ 2 (3.7% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.05), and fewer percentage of patients were diagnosed with fatty liver via upper abdominal ultrasound in the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet group (33.3% vs. 63.0%, p = 0.029). Additionally, the CAP (controlled attenuation parameter) and LSM (liver stiffness measurements) value were significantly lower in the 5:2 IF diet group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of weight, BMI (body mass index), WC (waist circumference), HC (hip circumference), and WHR (waist to hip ratio). Similarly, there were no significant differences in lipid profile, glycemic indices and adverse events (p > 0.05). In summary, although both 5:2 IF diet and daily caloric restriction eating achieved similar effect on body weight, liver enzymes, lipid profile and glycemic indices after 12 weeks treatment, 5:2 IF diet demonstrates better improvement in fibrosis and steatosis scores independently from weight regulation. Consequently, it is anticipated to emerge as a viable dietary modality for lifestyle intervention among patients diagnosed with MAFLD. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier ChiCTR2400080292.

The Effects of Short-Term Electromyostimulation Exercises and Different Diet Types on Body Composition in Obese Women

Obesity is one of the world's most risky health problems with increasing prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the effect of calorie-restricted diet and intermittent fasting diet on body composition with electromyostimulation (EMS) applications in obese females. The study was conducted with 90 obese females. Participants were randomly divided into 5 groups, EMS, EMS+intermittent fasting (EMS+IF), EMS+calorie restricted (EMS+CR), intermittent fasting (IF), and calorie restricted (CR) diet groups. EMS groups received 27min/2g/week EMS exercise protocol for 4 weeks. Furthermore, dietary interventions were conducted with all groups (except EMS). Body composition measurements of the participants were obtained with a bioelectrical impedance device. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the obtained data. BMI, body mass, and body fat weight decreased significantly in the EMS+IF, and EMS+CR groups compared to the EMS group while skeletal muscle weight decreased dramatically in all four groups compared to the EMS group. In body analysis regional (right-left arm, right-left leg, and trunk) parameters, fat weight decreased significantly in EMS+IF, and EMS+CR groups compared to the other groups. Moreover, muscle mass decreased more in the EMS+CR and EMS+IF groups compared to the other groups. Dietary interventions in the form of CR or IF with EMS significantly affected body composition measurements in obese participants. EMS and IF dietary interventions may be therapeutic tools to combat obesity.Keywords:Calorie-Restricted Diet, Electromyostimulation, Exercise, Intermittent Fasting, Obesity

The nutritional adequacy of popular weight loss diets - do they meet the requirements for dairy foods and calcium?

Weight loss or fad diets are often promoted for rapid weight loss and by unqualified individuals and celebrities. There is sometimes limited information around the nutritional adequacy of the diet. Some diets require fasting, some modify macronutrient composition, and some restrict food groups, such as dairy foods, resulting in suboptimal intake of nutrients like calcium, potentially leading to nutrient deficiencies and disease such as osteoporosis if followed long-term. We assessed the total dairy food and calcium content of five popular weight loss diets (Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic, Optifast, Paleolithic, 8 Weeks to Wow; 8WW), and two government recommended healthy eating principles (Australian Guide to Healthy Eating; AGHE, and Mediterranean diet; MedDiet, for weight loss). Meal plans from each diet were analysed using Foodworks Dietary Software and compared with government recommendations and dietary reference values (DRV) in Australia, the United States and Ireland to give the percentage of the recommended intake of dairy food and calcium, met by each diet(1). Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic and AGHE provided the most serves of dairy foods with 2.8, 2.3 and 2.2 serves/d, respectively, whilst 8WW, MedDiet, and Optifast provided 1.4, 1.3 and 1 serve/d each, respectively, and Paleolithic 0.02 serves/d. None of the dietary patterns met all government recommendations for dairy serves. Milk was the most common source of dairy food in all dietary patterns except for Ketogenic (cheese), MedDiet (yoghurt) and Paleolithic. The Ketogenic diet provided the highest calcium content (1293mg/d), followed by Intermittent Fasting (1230mg/d) and Optifast (1212mg/d). Non-dairy sources contributed to 93% of the calcium content (385mg/d) of the Paleolithic diet, 70% for Optifast and 61% in the MedDiet (631mg/d). None of the dietary pattens met all dietary reference values for calcium. There are no universal dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium, making cross country comparisons of dietary recommendations difficult. Only the Intermittent Fasting diet met the dietary recommendations in Australia for dairy serves for males 19-70 and females 19-50 years. None of the other diets met any recommendation for Australia, the US and Ireland. Most dietary patterns met the estimated average requirement for age and gender, for calcium for Australia, the US and Ireland, apart from the Paleolithic diet which eliminates dairy foods and the MedDiet which is naturally low in dairy foods. These data indicate that several popular weight-loss diets do not meet dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium. Therefore, when considering a weight loss diet or dietary pattern, it is crucial to consider the nutritional adequacy, to ensure macro and micronutrient requirements are met for health and avoidance of nutritional deficiencies, particularly if followed long-term.

The effects of intermittent fasting diet on quality of life, clinical symptoms, inflammation, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known as a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder that primarily targets synovial joints, and may cause pain and functional limitations. Studies show diet can have beneficial effects on symptoms and oxidative stress of this disease. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary approach with cycles of fasting and intake. The current study aims to investigate the effect of IF on quality of life, clinical symptoms, inflammation, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese postmenopausal women with RA.MethodsThe current study is a randomized clinical trial, in which 44 patients with mild to moderate severity of RA will be randomly allocated to receive either IF (n = 22) or the usual diet (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measures and biochemical indicators including serum concentrations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), and total oxidant and antioxidant capacity (TOC and TAC) will be assessed at the baseline and end of the study. Also, disease severity will be assessed by Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI), and disability index will be assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) questionnaire.DiscussionStudies show fasting has beneficial effects on inflammatory markers and results in an improvement in the health of different populations. Literature review shows it seems there is no study in this field to evaluate the effects of IF on RA patients, and they are limited to other types of fasting. However, studies show IF can have many positive effects on chronic and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, IF may have positive effects on these patients.Trial registrationIRCT20230217057441N1. Registered on 14 February 2023. https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/68669.

Effectiveness of an intermittent fasting diet versus regular diet on fat loss in overweight and obese middle-aged and elderly people without metabolic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveAs the number of adults aged over 40 with obesity increases dramatically, intermittent fasting interventions (IF) may help them to lose fat and weight. This systematic review investigated the most recent research on the effects of intermittent fasting and a regular diet on body composition and lipids in adults aged over 40 with obesity without the metabolic disease. Data sourcesRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) on IF on adults aged over 40 with obesity were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, China Knowledge Network (CNKI), VIP database, Wanfang database with the experimental group using IF and the control group using a regular diet. Revman was used for meta-analysis. Effect sizes are expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Study selectionA total of 9 articles of randomised controlled trials that met the requirements were screened for inclusion. Studies typically lasted 2–6 weeks. The experimental population was aged 42–66 years, with a BMI range of 25.7−35 kg/m2. SynthesisA total of 9 RCTs were included. meta-analysis showed that body weight (MD: −2.05 kg; 95% CI (−3.84, −0.27); p = 0.02), BMI (MD: −0.73 kg/m2; 95% CI (−1.05, −0.41); p < 0.001), fat mass (MD: −2.14 kg; 95% CI (−3.81, 0.47); p = 0.01), and TG (MD = −0.32 mmol/L, 95% CI (−0.50, −0.15, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. No significant reduction in lean body mass (MD: −0.31 kg; 95% CI (−0.96, 0.34); p = 0.35). ConclusionIF had a reduction in body weight, BMI, fat mass, and TG in adults aged over 40 with obesity without metabolic disease compared to RD, and IF did not cause a significant decrease in lean body mass, which suggests healthy and effective fat loss. However, more long-term and high-quality trials are needed to reach definitive conclusions.

The effects of intermittent fasting diet in comparison with low-calorie diet on lipid profile, glycemic status, and liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD): a study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

IntroductionNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease characterized by an increase in fat in liver cells. The outbreak of NAFLD is estimated to be 32.4% worldwide, with higher rates in Asia and Iran. Nutritional factors such as excessive calorie intake, high fructose intake, copper deficiency, and increased iron intake play an important role in NAFLD. Since there is no specific treatment for NAFLD, intermittent fasting (IF) diet has been suggested as an alternative treatment for obesity and related complications. Previous studies showed the potential positive effects of IF on metabolic health and the reduction of oxidative stress in NAFLD. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be aimed to examine the effect of the IF diet in comparison with a low-calorie diet (LCD) on lipid profile, glycemic status, and liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.Methods and analysisThis is a parallel randomized clinical trial conducted on 52 overweight and obese patients with NAFLD. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 16:8 IF (fasting from 8 P.M. to 12 P.M. the next day) or a low-calorie (55% carbohydrate- 30% fat, 15% protein) diet for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, liver assessments, and metabolic evaluations will be assessed before and after the intervention. Primary outcomes include liver steatosis and fibrosis, while secondary outcomes include liver function enzymes, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and anthropometric measurements.DiscussionSince obesity and insulin resistance are the most important risk factors of NAFLD, and there is no treatment for it, it seems that lifestyle changes such as low caloric diet like IF and exercise can improve lipid metabolism and liver enzymes.Trial registrationIranian registry of clinical trials (IRCT20170202032367N5).

THE EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT FASTING DIET AND LIGHT-INTENSITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON SERUM IRISIN LEVELS ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise and intermittent fasting diet on certain anthropometric measurements and circulating irisin concentration in elderly individuals and to investigate the relationship between irisin and body fat percentage.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: 44 elderly volunteers (21 males and 23 females) with a mean age of 69±9 years, were randomly divided into 4 groups; Control (n=8), Bocce group (n=12), Intermittent Fasting group (n=12), Bocce and Intermittent Fasting group (n=12). The applications were continued for 12 weeks.&#x0D; Results: A comparison of the groups before and after the application showed no significant difference between serum irisin values (P &gt;0.05). Body fat percentage decreased significantly in all other groups besides the control group where it increased (P

The effects of intermittent fasting diet alone or in combination with probiotic supplementation in comparison with calorie-restricted diet on metabolic and hormonal profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

IntroductionPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in females characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and other metabolic disorders. Both intermittent fasting and specific probiotics have been suggested to help improve patients with PCOS through changes in gut microbial composition, circadian clock, and metabolic regulation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of intermittent fasting alone or in combination with probiotic supplementation compared to the calorie-restricted (CR) diet on anthropometric measures, metabolic status, inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with PCOS.MethodsWe will carry out a randomized clinical trial for 8 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to one of the three groups: (1) a 14:10 early time-restricted feeding (TRF) diet with probiotic supplementation (n = 30); (2) a 14:10 early TRF diet with placebo supplementation (n = 30); (3) a CR diet (energy-restricted 25% of required calories) with placebo supplementation as a control group (n = 30). The primary outcomes will be changes in body weight and insulin resistance. However, glycemic control, lipid profile, metabolic parameters, sex hormone-binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone, anti-Mullerian hormone, free androgen index, hirsutism, acne, antioxidant and oxidant status, inflammation, anthropometric measures, mental health, sleep quality, appetite, eating behavior, food craving, and blood pressure are secondary outcomes. All outcomes of this study will be evaluated in pre- and post-intervention.DiscussionWe hypothesized that 10-h TRE administered alone or in combination with probiotic supplementation to overweight and obese PCOS subjects would lead to weight loss and improved metabolic, hormonal, inflammatory, and antioxidant markers compared to control subjects following a standard 3-meal-per-day CR diet.Ethical aspectsThe current trial received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IR.TUMS.MEDICNE.REC.1401.425).Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20121110011421N5. Registered on 3 October 2022.

Intermittent fasting against cancer development and progression: Highlighting potential anticancer molecular mechanisms.

Intermittent fasting (IF) diets have been popular since the last few decades because of their provable clinical efficiency on weight control of the subjects. These diet types are generally safe, resulting in health promoting effects against several human diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurogenerative disorders and cancer. To review whether IF can act against cancer development and progression, highlighting potential anticancer molecular mechanisms in clinical studies. Applied summarization of the available clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of IF against cancer development and progression and cancer-induced indicators. Scientific databases, e.g., PubMed, and Scopus, were comprehensively searched using relative words to identify in vivo and in vitro data, as well as clinical studies. IF seems to exert health-promoting effects in cancer patients through induction of autophagy, which enhances the in vivo suppression of tumor development, by chemotherapy. IF provokes tumors to chemotherapy and defends the normal cells from its adverse side effects, increasing the immune response. In addition, it enhances the cytotoxic CD8(+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the bone marrow lymphoid progenitor cells, delaying the cancer progression. IF reduces oxidative stress via repression of translation and induces cellular apoptosis. Fasting exerts anti-aging properties modulating the secretion of IGF-1, IGFBP-1, glucose, and insulin while, at the same time, it integrates cell adaptive responses and activates cell signaling pathways which stimulates antioxidant defenses, DNA repairment, control of protein quality, mitochondrial synthesis while decreasing inflammation. IF appears to exert health promoting effects against cancer development and progression, suppressing several kinds of cancer. There are well-recognized and not well-recognized molecular processes accentuating its anticancer outcomes; however, well-designed clinical trials and further molecular studies are strongly recommended.

Effects of alternate-day fasting and time-restricted feeding in obese middle-aged female rats

ObjectivesObesity is a multifactorial condition associated with metabolic alterations that can be aggravated during female aging. Calorie restriction via intermittent fasting (IF) diets may reduce body weight and therefore have the potential to decrease obesity and associated comorbidities, such as insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of two IF protocols, alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) in middle-aged obese female rats. MethodsWistar rats (age 15 mo) were fed with standard chow or high-fat diet for 8 wk and then separated into the following groups (n = 5–8 each) for another 8 wk: control (received standard chow), obese (received high-fat diet), obese + ADF (24-h fasting protocol), and obese + TRF (14 h daily). ResultsAt the end of the study, both IF protocols were able to reduce body weight and body mass index compared with the obese group. However, no changes were observed in adiposity and glucose homeostasis. We also found an increase in total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes in the TRF group and a higher number of platelets in the ADF group. Blood lipid profiles, including triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein, as well as liver stress responses, such as heat shock protein 70 and malondialdehyde, were not changed by IF. ConclusionsAlthough ADF and TRF protocols resulted in a reduction of body weight and body mass index, these dietary interventions did not promote health benefits, such as reducing blood lipid profile, adiposity, and insulin resistance. In addition, ADF and TRF increased inflammatory biomarkers, which may increase the risk of obesity-associated comorbidities.

The Integral Role of Diets Including Natural Products to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review.

Genetic and environmental factors including lifestyle are thought to play a key role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is evidence that diet can enhance the inflammatory response in genetically predisposed individuals. On the other hand, certain types of diets can alleviate RA symptoms due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Also, natural compounds with potential effectiveness in RA management belong to different chemical classes such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and alkaloids with their antioxidant characteristics as well as probiotics. The nutritional approaches to prevent or extenuate the disease progress were examined in this narrative review which was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases and conforms to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Mediterranean and vegan diets equally have been shown to exhibit positive effects on RA as the consumption of dietary fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds from fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds are high. Whereas Mediterranean diet additionally includes beneficial nutrients of animal origin such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish and seafood, patients on vegan diet need to be monitored closely for intake of all critical nutrients. Certain calorie restrictions and intermittent fasting diets have been shown to benefit RA patients although there is an obvious need for further studies to establish solid evidence-based recommendations and guidelines. The research data available strongly suggest that dietary approaches with anti-inflammatory properties may help delay the onset of RA and/or improve symptoms and thus nutrition should be routinely addressed to facilitate management of the disease.

Alternate-day modified fasting diet improves weight loss, subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction in women with obesity or overweight: a randomized, controlled trial.

Both sleep time and quality can be associated with overweight or obesity. In obese people, visceral fat tissue develops, which results in an increment in the production of cytokines. The increased production of inflammatory cytokines can disturb the sleep/wake cycle. Therefore, weight loss by reducing fat tissue can improve sleep disorders. Intermittent fasting diets are popular and effective diets that can decrease body weight and improve anthropometric data and body composition. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Alternate-day Modified Fasting (ADMF) on sleep quality, body weight, and daytime sleepiness. Classification of 56 obese or overweight women, based on age and body mass index (BMI), was done using stratified randomization. Then individuals were assigned to the ADMF group (intervention) or Daily Calorie Restriction (CR) group (control) using the random numbers table for 8 weeks. We measured the Pittsburgh sleep quality Index (PSQI), weight, BMI, and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) as primary outcomes and assessed subjective sleep quality (SSQ), sleep latency, sleep disturbances, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and sleep duration as secondary outcomes at baseline and after the study. Following an ADMF diet resulted in a greater decrease in weight (kg) [-5.23 (1.73) vs. -3.15 (0.88); P < 0.001] and BMI (kg/m2) [-2.05 (0.66) vs. -1.17 (0.34); P < 0.001] compared to CR. No significant differences were found in the changes of PSQI [-0.39 (1.43) vs. -0.45 (1.88); P = 0.73] and ESS [-0.22 (1.24) vs. -0.54 (1.67); P = 0.43] between two groups. Also, following the ADMF diet led to significant changes in SSQ [-0.69 (0.47) vs. -0.08 (0.40); P = <0.001], and daytime dysfunction [-0.65 (0.57) vs. 0.04 (0.75); P: 0.001] in compare with CR diet. These results suggested that an ADMF could be a beneficial diet for controlling body weight and BMI. The ADMF diet didn't affect PSQI and ESS in women with overweight or obesity but significantly improved SSQ and daytime dysfunction. The Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20220522054958N3), https://www.irct.ir/trial/64510.

Effectiveness of intermittent fasting for weight loss in individuals with obesity: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AimTo assess whether intermittent fasting (IF) diets are associated with improvement in weight loss, metabolic parameters, and subjective well-being, in people with obesity. Data synthesisWe performed a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials longer than 2 months, retrieved through an extensive search on MedLine, Cochrane CENTRAL Library, and Embase online databases, comparing weight loss with IF diets and control diets in people with Body Mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. We retrieved 9 trials, enrolling 540 patients. IF was not associated with a significantly greater reduction of body weight or BMI at any time point with respect to controls or in respect to continuous restricted diets, with low-to moderate quality of evidence; no significant difference in efficacy between alternate day fasting and time restricted eating was found. Differences in fasting plasma glucose, total or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or blood pressure at any time point were not statistically significant, whereas a reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD −8.39 [−15.96, −0.81] mg/dl, P = 0.03; I2 = 0%) was observed at 2–4 months, but not in the longer term. Data on psychological parameters and overall well-being were insufficient to perform a formal meta-analysis, whereas a qualitative synthesis did not show any difference between IF and controls. ConclusionsIF is not associated with greater or lesser weight loss than non-intermittent fasting diets. Further data on psychological parameters and overall well-being are needed to properly assess the role of IF diets in the management of obesity.

Improvement in Blood Pressure After Intermittent Fasting in Hipertension: Could Renin-Angiotensin System and Autonomic Nervous System Have a Role?

Although it has been reported that the intermittent fasting (IF) diet has positive effects on heart health and improvement in blood pressure, it has not been sufficiently clarified how it could have these positive effects yet. We aimed to evaluate the effects of IF on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which are closely related to blood pressure. Seventy-two hypertensive patients were included in the study, and the data of 58 patients were used. All the participants fasted for about 15-16 hours for 30 days. Participants were evaluated with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and Holter electrocardiography before and after IF; also, 5 ml venous blood samples were taken for assessment of Serum angiotensin I (Ang-I) and angiotensin II (Ang-II) levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. For data analysis, the p-value <0.05 was accepted as significant. Compared to pre-IF, a significant decrease was observed in the patients' blood pressures in post-IF. An increase in high-frequency (HF) power and the mean root square of the sum of squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD) were observed after the IF protocol (p=0.039, p=0.043). Ang-II and ACE activity were lower in patients after IF (p=0.034, p=0.004), and decreasing Ang-II levels were determined as predictive factors for improvement of the blood pressure, like the increase in HF power and RMSSD. The present findings of our study demonstrated an improvement in blood pressure and the relationship of blood pressure with positive outcomes, including HRV, ACE activity, and Ang-II levels after the IF protocol.

Time Restricted Eating may induce diabetes remission

Intermittent fasting diets, also known as Time Restricted Eating (TRE) have become popular in recent years as an effective weight loss method. TRE is a form of chrono nutrition that focuses on limiting calorie intake to a shortened “eating window”, followed by a prolonged fasting period (e.g. 8 hour feeding window, 16 hour fasting period). Initial time-restricted feeding studies on diet-induced obesity in mice demonstrated improved weight loss and metabolic parameters when eating duration was limited to 8 hours or less. TRE has since been investigated in humans with some evidence for effectiveness in reducing bodyweight and improving certain cardio-metabolic parameters. In this study, researchers conducted a 3-month TRE diet intervention among 36 people with diabetes and found almost 90% of participants, including those who took blood sugar-lowering agents and insulin, reduced their diabetes medication intake after TRE. Fifty-five percent of these people experienced diabetes remission, discontinued their diabetes medication and maintained it for at least one year. Importantly, sixty-five percent of the study participants who achieved diabetes remission had a diabetes duration of more than 6 years – disease duration >6 years was an exclusion criteria in the DIRECT study which reported diabetes remission following a Very Low calorie Diet programme. Overall this study provided preliminary evidence of efficacy of TRE for diabetes remission. It would be interesting to have a randomised controlled study of VLCD vs TRE with a primary outcome measure being rate of diabetes remission. The study was published in the Endocrine Reviews and received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

The Effect of 16 : 8 Intermittent Fasting Diet on Cognitive Eating Behavior in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of intermittent fasting diet on cognitive eating behavior in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Methods: This intervention-type study was conducted on 70 individuals with metabolic syndrome between the ages of 18 and 65 who were directed by a physician to an obesity counseling center. In the study, energy-restricted diets were planned similarly for all participants. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups according to age and gender. The control group was followed up for 12 weeks with the frequent intermittent diet plan and the intervention group with the 16 : 8 model intermittent fasting diet plan. The general demographic characteristics of the participants were defined before the research. Three-factor Nutrition Questionnaire was applied before and after the study in order to define the cognitive eating behavior level. Results: The majority of the participants are in the 54-65 age group. The research group is married (94%), has primary-secondary (52.3%) level of education, whose income is at or above the minimum wage (95.4%), is a housewife (43.1%), retired (24%)), and consists of individuals who are public employees (12.3%). There was no significant difference between the groups in the total score of the 3-Factor Nutrition Questionnaire before the intervention. In terms of the sub-components of the 3-Factor Nutrition Questionnaire, statistically significant differences were found in both groups during the diet in uncontrolled eating, conscious restriction, and emotional eating scores (P &lt; .05). Conclusions: As a result, it has been determined that the application of energy-restricted diet as frequent or 16 : 8 model intermittent fasting diet does not have any superiority over the components of cognitive eating behavior, uncontrolled eating, conscious restraint, and emotional eating. Both energy-restricted diet plans have similarly positive effects on cognitive eating behavior.

Thermodynamic Assessment of the Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Fatty Liver Disease Diets on Longevity

Organisms uptake energy from their diet and maintain a highly organized structure by importing energy and exporting entropy. A fraction of the generated entropy is accumulated in their bodies, thus causing ageing. Hayflick's entropic age concept suggests that the lifespan of organisms is determined by the amount of entropy they generate. Organisms die after reaching their lifespan entropy generation limit. On the basis of the lifespan entropy generation concept, this study suggests that an intermittent fasting diet, which means skipping some meals without increasing the calories uptake in the other courses, may increase longevity. More than 1.32 million people died in 2017 because of chronic liver diseases, and a quarter of the world's population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There are no specific dietary guidelines available for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases but shifting to a healthier diet is recommended as the primary treatment. A healthy obese person may generate 119.9 kJ/kg K per year of entropy and generate a total of 4796 kJ/kg K entropy in the first 40 years of life. If obese persons continue to consume the same diet, they may have 94 years of life expectancy. After age 40, Child-Pugh Score A, B, and C NAFLD patients may generate 126.2, 149.9, and 272.5 kJ/kg K year of entropy and have 92, 84, and 64 years of life expectancy, respectively. If they were to make a major recommended shift in their diet, the life expectancy of Child-Pugh Score A, B, and C patients may increase by 29, 32, and 43 years, respectively.

Comparison of the effect of modified intermittent fasting and daily calorie restriction on sleep quality, anthropometric data, and body composition in women with obesity or overweight: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSleep disturbances are common in nearly one-third of adults. Both low quality of sleep and sleep time could be related to increased obesity. An increase in visceral adipose tissue can result in the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Inflammatory cytokines can lead to a disturbance of the sleep-wake rhythm. Therefore, weight loss may improve sleep quality and duration. Intermittent fasting diet as a popular diet reduces body weight and improves anthropometric indices. This study is performed to further investigate the effect of a modified intermittent fasting diet on sleep quality and anthropometric indices.MethodsThis is an open-label randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of daily calorie restriction (control) and modified intermittent fasting (intervention) on sleep quality, anthropometric data, and body composition in women with obesity or overweight for 8 weeks. Fifty-six participants will be classified using stratified randomization based on body mass index (BMI) and age. Then, participants will be assigned to one of the two groups of intervention or control using the random numbers table. The sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and insomnia will be evaluated by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Insomnia Severity Index respectively. The primary outcomes chosen for the study were as follows: the difference in sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, BMI, fat-free mass (FFM), body fat mass, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio from baseline to 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes chosen for the study were as follows: the difference in hip circumference, the visceral fat area, percent body fat, soft lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, extracellular water ratio, and total body water from baseline to 8 weeks.DiscussionThis study will investigate the effect of intermittent fasting intervention compared with daily calorie restriction on sleep quality and anthropometric indices. The information gained will enhance our understanding of fasting interventions, which can be used to improve clinical dietary recommendations. The findings will help to disclose as yet the unknown relationship between diet and sleep quality.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20220522054958N3. Registered on 8 July 2022. https://www.irct.ir/trial/64510.