Intermittent fasting carries higher risk of cardiovascular disease - US study

CapeTalk's John Maytham chats to Dietician and Nutritionist Jenna Bowes.

Listen below: 

According to research published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews and also reported in ScienceDirect, scientists tracked the eating habits of more than 19,000 American adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2018. Participants were followed for a median of eight years, during which their mortality status was monitored.

The results revealed that people who confined eating to fewer than eight hours daily had a 135% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, compared with those who spread meals over 12 to 14 hours.

Lead researcher, Professor Victor Wenze Zhong from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, noted that while short-term studies often suggested cardiovascular benefits, this longer-term data shows a more troubling picture. He explained that the findings highlight the need for personalised dietary recommendations, rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

Considering this study, Bowes believes there are enefits associated with intermittent fasting, if it's done correctly. Lifestyle plays a "huge role" in the diet she recommends for each patient, Bowes adds.

Intermittent fasting is not just about eating within a specific time, but also learning how to eat the correct types of nutrients – along with managing blood glucose regulation and a diet that fits an individual's medication, should they be on any.

"It's about the food you're consuming within that eating period," Bowes adds.

For example, if a patient struggles with consistency, intermittent fasting can be challenging as a dietary approach.

"There's no harm in giving it a bash if that's the way we can regulate for better metabolic function in the body, and simultaneously help with reducing calorie intake."

- Jenna Bowes, Dietician and Nutritionist

However, intermittent fasting might not be the recommended approach for individuals with metabolic complications, says Bowes.

Intermittent fasting can be dangerous for people with certain health conditions, particularly smokers, those with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

For these individuals, intermittent fasting can worsen insulin sensitivity, lead to muscle loss and reduced metabolic rate, and potentially worsen cardiovascular health.

The potential for rebound weight gain or increased health risks might also be experienced.

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