Intermittent Fasting Aids Weight Loss in Prediabetes and T2D

TOPLINE:

In adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D), intermittent fasting reduces body weight and body mass index (BMI) and improves glycemic control compared with a control diet.

METHODOLOGY:

• Intermittent fasting may be a more flexible strategy for weight loss and cardiometabolic health improvement than calorie restriction, but data in adults with prediabetes or T2D are limited.
• Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials that included 1101 men and women with prediabetes or T2D (mean ages, 17-65 years; BMI, 24-39) to compare intermittent fasting with a usual diet (as control) and/or calorie restriction.
• The study outcomes included changes in body composition, glycemic markers, and cardiometabolic markers.

TAKEAWAY:

• Compared with a control diet, intermittent fasting led to a decrease in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD], −4.56 kg; P = .001), BMI (WMD, −1.99; P = .001), total cholesterol (WMD, −0.31 mmol/L; P = .03), triglycerides (WMD, −0.14 mmol/L; P = .02), A1c (WMD, −0.81%; P = .001), and fasting glucose levels (WMD, −0.36 mmol/L; P = .008).
• Intermittent fasting led to a greater reduction in body weight (WMD, −1.14 kg; P = .001) and BMI (WMD, −0.43; P = .001) than calorie restriction.
• Intermittent fasting decreased body weight in both prediabetes (WMD, −5.35 kg; P = .007) and T2D (WMD, −4.16 kg; P = .001) subgroups.
• Compared with a control diet, intermittent fasting did not significantly decrease fat mass, fasting insulin, lipid profiles, or blood pressure.

IN PRACTICE:

“Intermittent fasting may be an alternate and effective dietary intervention in individuals with prediabetes or T2D for weight loss and improving glycemia,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study, led by Mousa Khalafi, PhD, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran, was published online in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

LIMITATIONS:

The role of intermittent fasting for most outcomes could not be investigated because of the limited number of studies. The heterogeneity for several outcomes was significant and high due to study differences. No study was longer than 6 months. The authors could not determine the most beneficial mode of intermittent fasting for patients, such as alternative-day fasting or time-restricted eating.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was not supported by any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.