A US study links intermittent fasting to a higher risk of heart disease; experts recommend mindful eating

Unaware that intermittent fasting may increase one’s chance of dying from cardiovascular disease by 91%, many people resort to it in an attempt to lose weight.

A dietary strategy called intermittent fasting, also referred to as time-restricted eating, restricts food intake to certain times of the day. A recent study that was presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention on March 19 showed that people who followed an eight-hour time-restricted eating regimen—a popular type of intermittent fasting—had a 91% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

People who followed a time-restricted eating pattern and limited their eating to less than eight hours per day were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people who ate meals over 12–16 hours per day, according to a study that included over 20,000 US adults with an average age of 49. A maximum of 17 years was allowed for the research participants to be followed, with a median of eight years.

The findings was presented at a conference known as the Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, which is renowned for providing the most recent research on population-based health and wellness and its implications for lifestyle. On the other hand, a peer-reviewed scientific journal is where the work will be published.

News18 talked with Indian health specialists who agreed with the findings but said that further study is required to confirm them. According to them, erratic eating habits may exacerbate illnesses including hypertension, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease, which increases the chance of cardiovascular death. Thus, in order to support heart health, people should concentrate on eating a balanced diet and sticking to a regular schedule.

“The overall risk of death is not reduced by intermittent fasting.”
According to the research, those who ate their whole meal in less than eight hours each day had a 91% increased chance of dying from cardiovascular disease. It said, “Those with cancer or heart disease also showed an increased risk of cardiovascular death.” “An eating duration of no less than 8 but less than 10 hours per day was also associated with a 66% higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke among people with existing cardiovascular disease.”

Intermittent fasting did not lower the overall risk of dying from any cause, according to the research. Additionally, it said that eating for longer than 16 hours a day was linked to a decreased risk of cancer-related death in cancer patients.

Victor Wenze Zhong, the study’s author, said, “We were surprised to find that people who followed an 8-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease.”

Zhong continued, “Our research clearly shows that, compared with a typical eating time range of 12-16 hours per day, a shorter eating duration was not associated with living longer, even though this type of diet has been popular due to its potential short-term benefits.” Zhong is also the chairperson of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China.

Experts advise individuals to make thoughtful food choices.
Experts think that patients and physicians should take serious concerns into account in light of the recent research that suggested a possible connection between eating within certain time constraints and an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.

The results were “concerning,” according to Dr. Siddhartha Mani, a cardiac consultant at Narayana Hospital-RN Tagore Hospital in West Bengal, who spoke with News18.

Recognizing that correlation does not imply causality is crucial, and further investigation is required to clarify the underlying processes. Prolonged fasting, he noted, “may, however, interfere with circadian rhythms and metabolic processes, with potentially harmful effects on the cardiovascular system.”

Mani suggested that irregular eating habits might worsen illnesses including arrhythmias, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, which would raise the risk of cardiovascular death.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, the head of the Indian Medical Association’s research cell in Kerala, claims that the study adds to the amount of data showing intermittent fasting has no long-term positive effects on health. “According to a 2017 randomised clinical trial published in JAMA, intermittent fasting doesn’t produce additional metabolic benefits, despite being popular as a convenient alternative to traditional calorie restriction with every meal,” he said.

According to Jayadevan, the most recent research is “definitely worth noting,” awaiting the complete paper’s release after peer review.

The initial health state of those who adhered to the various dietary regimens will be crucial to ascertain. The question is whether intermittent fasting or the underlying medical conditions is causing the higher death risk, he said, adding that the abstract shows that, despite the intermittent fasting group’s lower average age, a higher percentage of black people and smokers were included. “It is yet unknown how much these differences affect the long-term result.”

The director of cardiology at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Dr. Samir Kubba, stressed the need to interpret these results with “caution” due to their detrimental impact on the body.

According to him, eating under a time constraint may cause problems with “metabolic processes,” which include lipid metabolism and glucose management and are essential for preserving cardiovascular health.

It’s critical to realize that harmony is essential. Prolonged fasting durations may also raise inflammatory and stress hormone levels, which are linked to the onset and advancement of cardiovascular illnesses, according to Dr. Kubba.

In general, experts emphasized that people should be aware of their eating habits and work to maintain a well-rounded diet that supports general cardiovascular health, even if more study is required to completely understand the precise processes behind this association.