New research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that intermittent fasting may improve blood sugar regulation and metabolic function.
The randomized controlled trial included 108 participants who had metabolic syndrome, defined as elevated fasting glucose or HbA1c, at the start of the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive nutritional counseling or to receive nutritional counseling plus a personalized 8- to 10-hour time-restricted eating plan during the study. The time-restricted eating plan for each participant included at least a 4-hour reduction in their eating window compared to their baseline. Eating times were tracked using an app during the three-month intervention, and health markers including HbA1c, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin were measured. Additionally, the study included a model assessment of insulin resistance and glycemic assessments from continuous glucose monitors.
After three months, the participants assigned to a time-restricted eating plan showed improvements in fasting glucose, cholesterol, and HbA1c compared to those who only had nutritional counseling. Participants in the time-restricted eating group also had an average of a 3-4% decrease in total body weight, body mass index, and abdominal trunk fat compared to participants who were assigned to nutritional counseling alone.
The authors noted that time-restricted eating appears to be a simple and cost-effective way to reduce weight and improve health markers. While drugs like Ozempic can lead to weight loss, they are expensive and must be taken continuously throughout one’s lifetime. A lifestyle change like time-restricted eating is both simpler and cheaper for most patients. The positive health benefits seen with time-restricted eating, including lower cholesterol, better fasting glucose, and lower body mass index, are likely to both improve metabolism and help prevent heart disease. In the future, healthcare providers and patients could consider implementing time-restricted eating along with other treatments to lower the risk of chronic disease.
Sources: Annals of Internal Medicine, Science Daily