Attention intermittent fasting followers: Study reveals heart health risks!

PTC Web Desk: Intermittent fasting has emerged as a popular strategy for weight loss, restricting food intake to specific time frames. However, recent research presented at a medical conference in Chicago raised concerns about its safety, particularly in relation to heart health. The study, unveiled by the American Heart Association (AHA), highlighted a surprising finding linking limited mealtimes to an increased risk of death from heart disease.

The Study

Led by Victor Zhong from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the study analysed data from approximately 20,000 adults participating in the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The researchers examined questionnaire responses and death records spanning from 2003 to 2019.

Key Findings

The study revealed a striking 91% rise in the risk of death from heart disease among individuals practicing time-restricted eating, limiting their meals to just eight hours a day. This finding stirred significant debate within the scientific community, especially since the AHA released only an abstract, leaving many details of the study protocol undisclosed.

Some medical professionals questioned the validity of the study's conclusions, suggesting that factors like underlying heart health could have skewed the results. Keith Frayn, an emeritus professor of human metabolism at the University of Oxford, highlighted the importance of conducting long-term studies to comprehensively assess the effects of intermittent fasting. Frayn noted that while the abstract raised important questions, it lacked essential details necessary for a thorough evaluation.

The fasting group consisted primarily of younger men with a higher body mass index (BMI) and food insecurity issues. Surprisingly, these individuals reported lower incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease compared to the comparison group, which consumed food over a daily period of 12 to 16 hours. Despite controlling for these variables in the analysis, the positive association between eight-hour time-restricted eating and cardiovascular mortality persisted.

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One significant limitation of the study was its reliance on self-reported data, particularly regarding dietary habits. Since participants were asked to recall their food intake over a two-day period, there is a potential for inaccuracies. Additionally, the duration of intermittent fasting among patients remained unclear, raising questions about the long-term effects of this dietary practice.

The study's unexpected findings regarding the association between intermittent fasting and heart disease mortality underscore the need for further research. While the abstract presented at the AHA's Lifestyle Scientific Sessions meeting sparked controversy, it serves as a catalyst for deeper investigations into the safety and efficacy of time-restricted eating. As lifestyle interventions for weight loss gain prominence alongside advancements in pharmaceutical treatments, it becomes imperative to critically evaluate their impact on overall health, particularly cardiovascular well-being.

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