Mixed
Alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) provide superior reductions in fasting glucose and LDL-cholesterol compared to continuous energy restriction (CER) and ad libitum diets, while offering similar weight loss benefits to CER.
If you are using intermittent fasting for heart health or blood sugar, choose your strategy carefully. Alternate-day fasting appears best for lowering bad cholesterol (LDL), while time-restricted feeding (eating within a specific window each day) is superior for lowering fasting blood glucose. Both methods lose weight similarly to standard calorie restriction, but offer these specific metabolic advantages.
ADF and CER both showed a benefit for body weight reduction compared to ad libitum diet... For fasting glucose... TRF showed a benefit compared to ad libitum diet... and to CER... Furthermore, ADF showed a benefit in reducing LDL-cholesterol... compared to... CER
Why this rating
Based on 19 RCTs (n=590) with certainty ranging from high to moderate, though downgraded for imprecision.
Source
Effect of Intermittent Fasting Strategies on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Zhila Semnani‐Azad et al. · Current Developments in Nutrition · 2021
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