The effect of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammation on metabolic syndrome: a GRADE assessed systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 40826125 · doi:10.1186/s41043-025-01039-2
What was done
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials searched across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science up to March 2025. The authors evaluated the effect of fasting interventions on cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors in adults, assessing study quality with Cochrane RoB 2 and certainty with GRADE.
What was found
Eight RCTs with 573 participants were included. Fasting interventions significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (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), HOMA-IR (WMD = -0.60; 95% CI: -0.91, -0.28; P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (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). Sensitivity analysis showed no single study altered overall effect sizes, and Begg's test showed no evidence of publication bias (P > 0.05).
Why it matters
The study synthesizes randomized trial evidence showing that intermittent fasting interventions can modestly improve glycemic control, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers in adults.
Limits
The total sample size was small across only eight RCTs totaling 573 participants. Absolute effect sizes were modest, and the abstract does not report specific fasting protocols, trial durations, comparator diets, adverse events, or long-term clinical endpoints.
Cited by
- supports Fasting exerts powerful anti-inflammatory and beneficial metabolic effects.