[ad_1]
Intermittent fasting (a diet that alternates between periods of voluntary fasting and periods of non-fasting) may be linked to an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a new analysis.
The analysis, presented for the first time Monday at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, found that people who limited food consumption to less than eight hours a day had a 91 percent increased risk of fatal cardiovascular disease compared to people who eat between 12 and 16 hours a day. .
The researchers noted that the highest risk of cardiovascular death was also seen in those living with heart disease or cancer. Those who had existing cardiovascular disease and ate eight to 10 hours a day also had a 66 percent higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke, the analysis stated.
Intermittent fasting, which involves eating for a period of six to eight hours and fasting for the remaining 16 to 18 hours, has increased in popularity over the past 10 years. Studies have suggested that the diet can help you lose weight, decrease the risk of diseases such as cancer, lower blood pressure, and increase energy.
The analysis, conducted by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, is based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 20,000 adults in the United States between 2003 and 2018. Not yet has not been peer reviewed or published in an academic journal. However, it is one of the few to specifically examine the long-term effects of intermittent fasting on the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
“Restricting daily eating time to a short period, such as 8 hours per day, has gained popularity in recent years as a way to lose weight and improve heart health,” said the study’s lead author, Victor Wenze Zhong, Ph.D., in a statement. “However, the long-term effects of time-restricted feeding are unknown, including the risk of death from any cause or cardiovascular disease.”
Zhong said researchers were “surprised” to find that those on an intermittent fasting diet had a higher risk of cardiovascular death.
“Although this type of diet has been popular due to its potential short-term benefits, our research clearly shows that, compared to a typical eating time window of 12 to 16 hours per day, a shorter eating duration does not was associated with longer life.” ,” he wrote.
Zhong said the findings should encourage people to exercise greater caution when it comes to their dietary choices, and emphasized that these choices should be “aligned” with an individual’s health status.
The findings do not mean that intermittent fasting caused cardiovascular death, and more research should look into the “biological mechanisms” behind the links between diet and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, he added. She noted that the research also depends on individuals’ memories of what they ate.
Zhong told NBC News It’s premature to make specific recommendations based on the analysis, writing to the outlet: “Practicing intermittent fasting for a short period, such as 3 months, is likely to yield benefits in weight reduction and improved cardiometabolic health.” He noted that people should use “extreme” caution with intermittent fasting for longer periods of time, NBC News reported.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.