Hormonal
Intermittent fasting significantly improves lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol and LDL, but may temporarily increase triglycerides in short-term interventions (≤ 12 weeks).
Intermittent fasting improves total cholesterol and LDL, key markers for heart health. However, be aware that triglycerides may temporarily rise in the first 12 weeks as your body adapts. This is often a transient phase. If you have high baseline triglycerides, consult a healthcare provider and consider longer-term adherence to see the full lipid benefits.
IF significantly reduced... TC (MD: -6.31 mg/dl, 95% CI: -12.36, -0.26) and LDL (MD: -5.44 mg/dl, 95% CI: -12.36, -0.26). However, short-term IF (≤ 12 weeks) may have resulted in a temporary elevation of TG (MD: 13.22 mg/dl, 95% CI: 3.39, 23.05), whereas long-term intervention (> 12 weeks) optimized lipid metabolism benefits.
Why this rating
Meta-analysis of RCTs, with subgroup analyses clarifying time-dependent effects.
Source
The impact of intermittent fasting on body composition and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Bingjie Wang et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2025
DOI 10.1186/s12937-025-01178-6
More from this paper
- Intermittent fasting significantly reduces body weight and BMI in overweight and obese adults compared to control diets, with alternate-day fasting showing superior weight loss effects compared to time-restricted eating.Good
- Intermittent fasting significantly reduces diastolic blood pressure but has no significant effect on systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, or HbA1c in overweight and obese adults.Good
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