The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Evidence revealed that fasting intervention may have favorable effects on metabolic and inflammation profile. However, the results are controversial. This study attempted to investigate and assess the effects of fasting on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults. Methods We search...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01039-2 |
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| author | Ling Lu Xi Chen Sho Liou Xiuping Weng |
| author_facet | Ling Lu Xi Chen Sho Liou Xiuping Weng |
| author_sort | Ling Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence revealed that fasting intervention may have favorable effects on metabolic and inflammation profile. However, the results are controversial. This study attempted to investigate and assess the effects of fasting on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until March 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which have evaluated the effect of fasting intervention on metabolic and inflammation profile. The GRADE approach was applied to assess the quality of evidence, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) 2 tool was used to evaluate study quality. Results Eight RCTs with 573 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Findings revealed that fasting could significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (FBS) (WMD = -3.34; 95% CI: -6.24, -0.45, P = 0.024), HbA1c (WMD = -0.08; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.02; P = 0.005), and HOMA-IR (WMD= -0.60; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.28; P < 0.001) in adults. Similarly, fasting intervention exerted its favorable effect by reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (WMD = -6.42; 95% CI: -12.26, -0.58; P = 0.031), and IL-6 (WMD = -0.58; 95% CI: -1.08, -0.08; P = 0.022), significantly. The sensitivity analysis, indicated that excluding any single study has no effect on the overall effect size. No evidence of publication bias was observed using Begg’s test (P > 0.05). Conclusion Overall this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that fasting state contributed to improved glycemic control including FBS, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR levels. In addition, fasting intervention caused to an improvement in lipid metabolism (LDL-c) and inflammatory state indicated by IL-6. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-c76581a8bdcb49fab967929e94b990fe2025-08-24T11:35:33ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-08-0144111510.1186/s41043-025-01039-2The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysisLing Lu0Xi Chen1Sho Liou2Xiuping Weng3Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College)Department of Endocrinology, Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, Nanjing Medical UniversityGeneral Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College)Abstract Background Evidence revealed that fasting intervention may have favorable effects on metabolic and inflammation profile. However, the results are controversial. This study attempted to investigate and assess the effects of fasting on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until March 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which have evaluated the effect of fasting intervention on metabolic and inflammation profile. The GRADE approach was applied to assess the quality of evidence, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) 2 tool was used to evaluate study quality. Results Eight RCTs with 573 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Findings revealed that fasting could significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (FBS) (WMD = -3.34; 95% CI: -6.24, -0.45, P = 0.024), HbA1c (WMD = -0.08; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.02; P = 0.005), and HOMA-IR (WMD= -0.60; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.28; P < 0.001) in adults. Similarly, fasting intervention exerted its favorable effect by reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (WMD = -6.42; 95% CI: -12.26, -0.58; P = 0.031), and IL-6 (WMD = -0.58; 95% CI: -1.08, -0.08; P = 0.022), significantly. The sensitivity analysis, indicated that excluding any single study has no effect on the overall effect size. No evidence of publication bias was observed using Begg’s test (P > 0.05). Conclusion Overall this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that fasting state contributed to improved glycemic control including FBS, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR levels. In addition, fasting intervention caused to an improvement in lipid metabolism (LDL-c) and inflammatory state indicated by IL-6.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01039-2FastingCardiometabolic factorsInflammation biomarkersInsulin-resistanceSystematic reviewMeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Ling Lu Xi Chen Sho Liou Xiuping Weng The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Fasting Cardiometabolic factors Inflammation biomarkers Insulin-resistance Systematic review Meta-analysis |
| title | The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance lipid profile and inflammation on metabolic syndrome a grade assessed systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Fasting Cardiometabolic factors Inflammation biomarkers Insulin-resistance Systematic review Meta-analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01039-2 |
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