Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research

Intermittent fasting (IF) strategy, including time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate day fasting (ADF), and other variations, is a dietary approach that alternates between periods of eating and fasting. This review investigates the influence of IF on human health, focusing on metabolic effects, ca...

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Main Authors: Jagoda Kubicka, Martyna Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Aleksandra Wiśniewska, Jakub Dąbek, Wiktoria Kosucka, Dominik Balik, Joanna Lara, Anna Kwasniewska, Karolina Kaszyńska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2025-04-01
Series:Quality in Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59420
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author Jagoda Kubicka
Martyna Grabowska
Karolina Grabowska
Aleksandra Wiśniewska
Jakub Dąbek
Wiktoria Kosucka
Dominik Balik
Joanna Lara
Anna Kwasniewska
Karolina Kaszyńska
author_facet Jagoda Kubicka
Martyna Grabowska
Karolina Grabowska
Aleksandra Wiśniewska
Jakub Dąbek
Wiktoria Kosucka
Dominik Balik
Joanna Lara
Anna Kwasniewska
Karolina Kaszyńska
author_sort Jagoda Kubicka
collection DOAJ
description Intermittent fasting (IF) strategy, including time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate day fasting (ADF), and other variations, is a dietary approach that alternates between periods of eating and fasting. This review investigates the influence of IF on human health, focusing on metabolic effects, cardiometabolic health, neurocognitive functions, and hormonal changes. IF is believed to help in weight reduction, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of type II diabetes mellitus. It may also have positive impact on cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and improving lipid profiles. Moreover, IF is believed to have neuroprotective effects, improve cognitive functions and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Hormonal changes during IF are very complex and require careful management in conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome. Despite promising results, more research is needed to fully explore the potential negative outcomes and safety of IF. Choice of exact dietary protocol should be individualized and supervised by a healthcare provider.
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issn 2450-3118
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
record_format Article
series Quality in Sport
spelling doaj-art-9aa96b5ca5f546c7b8ba59ee9014dcaf2025-08-20T02:16:45ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-04-014010.12775/QS.2025.40.59420Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing ResearchJagoda Kubicka0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6464-4777Martyna Grabowska1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4030-8272Karolina Grabowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7877-2512Aleksandra Wiśniewska3https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4393-0829Jakub Dąbek4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1367-7629Wiktoria Kosucka5https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1101-7364Dominik Balik6https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9921-3056Joanna Lara7https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9411-4815Anna Kwasniewska8https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1080-1276Karolina Kaszyńska9https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6453-1159Provincial Specialized Hospital in Zgierz, Parzęczewska 35, 95-100 ZgierzFaculty of Medicine, Medical Univeristy of Lodz, Al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Lodz, PolandFaculty of Medicine, Medical Univeristy of Lodz, Al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Lodz, PolandWojewódzki Szpital im. Mikołaja PirogowaCharles Jonscher Medical Center, Milionowa 14 Street, 93-113 Lodz, PolandUniversity Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Medical University of Lodz, Stefana Żeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, PolandCentral Clinical Hospital of Medical University of LodzFaculty of Medicine, Medical Univeristy of Lodz, Al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Lodz, PolandCharles Jonscher Medical Center Lodz PLCharles Jonscher Medical Center Lodz, PL Intermittent fasting (IF) strategy, including time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate day fasting (ADF), and other variations, is a dietary approach that alternates between periods of eating and fasting. This review investigates the influence of IF on human health, focusing on metabolic effects, cardiometabolic health, neurocognitive functions, and hormonal changes. IF is believed to help in weight reduction, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of type II diabetes mellitus. It may also have positive impact on cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and improving lipid profiles. Moreover, IF is believed to have neuroprotective effects, improve cognitive functions and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Hormonal changes during IF are very complex and require careful management in conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome. Despite promising results, more research is needed to fully explore the potential negative outcomes and safety of IF. Choice of exact dietary protocol should be individualized and supervised by a healthcare provider. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59420Intermittent fastingTime-restricted eatingAlternate day fastingMetabolic effectCardiometabolic healthhormonal chaneges
spellingShingle Jagoda Kubicka
Martyna Grabowska
Karolina Grabowska
Aleksandra Wiśniewska
Jakub Dąbek
Wiktoria Kosucka
Dominik Balik
Joanna Lara
Anna Kwasniewska
Karolina Kaszyńska
Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
Quality in Sport
Intermittent fasting
Time-restricted eating
Alternate day fasting
Metabolic effect
Cardiometabolic health
hormonal chaneges
title Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
title_full Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
title_fullStr Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
title_full_unstemmed Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
title_short Intermittent Fasting and Its Health Implications: A Systematic Review of Existing Research
title_sort intermittent fasting and its health implications a systematic review of existing research
topic Intermittent fasting
Time-restricted eating
Alternate day fasting
Metabolic effect
Cardiometabolic health
hormonal chaneges
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59420
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