A recent study has indicated a potential link between intermittent fasting and an increased risk of dying from heart disease.
Intermittent fasting, a diet regimen involving consuming all food within an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours, has gained popularity as a method for weight management.
Presented at an American Heart Association meeting in Chicago by researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the study analyzed dietary habits data from 20,000 adults in the United States spanning from 2003 to 2018.
Lead researcher Victor Zhong revealed that individuals who restricted their eating to an 8-hour daily window had a 91% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to those with a 12-16 hour eating window.
Zhong noted, “We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Our research clearly shows that, compared with a typical eating time range of 12-16 hours per day, a shorter eating duration was not associated with living longer.”
The study also discovered that this risk extended to individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, with those following the eight-hour eating schedule facing a 66% increased risk of death compared to those with a longer eating window.
Interestingly, time-restricted eating did not demonstrate a reduction in the overall risk of death from any cause. However, there was a favorable association for individuals with cancer, as those consuming food for over 16 hours daily showed a lower risk of death from the disease.
Zhong emphasized the need for further research to better comprehend why time-restricted eating might negatively affect heart health.
Christopher D Gardner, a professor of Medicine at Stanford University, commented, “Overall, this study suggests that time-restricted eating may have short-term benefits but long-term adverse effects. When the study is presented in its entirety, it will be interesting and helpful to learn more of the details of the analysis.”
However, it’s worth noting a 2021 study that suggested intermittent fasting could improve measures of cardiometabolic health such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels.
