Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2025 Nov 21:104472. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2025.104472. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide with lipid disorders as one of the main modifiable risk factors. Lifestyle modification, including dietary approach, is crucial for dyslipidemia management. Intermittent fasting (IF), with its various regimens, has gained attention as a potential strategy to improve lipid parameters. This umbrella review evaluates recent evidence from meta-analyses regarding the impact of IF, including time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate-day fasting (ADF), and Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF), on lipid profile parameters such as total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG).
DATA SYNTHESIS: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted for meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2025. The inclusion criteria were human studies, IF interventions of any type, and outcomes presenting abovementioned lipid profile parameters. Fifty-seven meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria. The evidence suggests that TRE may modestly reduce TG levels, particularly in overweight individuals, with a limited impact on LDL-C, HDL-C, and TC. ADF demonstrated inconsistent effects on lipid profile. RIF presented modest improvements of TG and HDL-C. Heterogeneity of study designs, fasting regimens and durations, and control groups limited the interpretation of potential findings.
CONCLUSIONS: IF appears to present modest benefits on lipid profile, mainly in TG reduction, while data on LDL-C, HDL-C, and TC remains inconsistent. Among IF regimens, TRE demonstrates greater potential benefits, particularly when combined with caloric restriction. However, significant heterogeneity across meta-analyses and short follow-up durations hinders providing definitive conclusions. Future research should prioritize standardization of IF protocols, extended study durations, and consistent comparator groups to clarify the clinical relevance of IF in dyslipidemia management.
PMID:41475991 | DOI:10.1016/j.numecd.2025.104472