Adverse events profile associated with intermittent fasting in adults with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Xingyi Jin, Ruipeng Wu, Li Shao, Xiangjun Chen, Ting Zhu, Shaokang Wang, Fan Zhong

Journal: Nutrition journal 2024;23(1):72

PMID: 38987755

Free Full Text on BioMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence to comprehensively summarize the adverse events (AEs) profile of intermittent fasting (IF) despite its widespread use in patients with overweight or obesity.

METHODS

We searched the main electronic databases and registry websites to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IF versus control groups. A direct meta-analysis using a fixed-effect model was conducted to pool the risk differences regarding common AEs and dropouts. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad scale. Pre-specified subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 15 RCTs involving 1,365 adult individuals were included. Findings did not show a significant difference between IF and Control in risk rate of fatigue [0%, 95% confidence interval (CI), -1% to 2%; P = 0.61], headache [0%, 95%CI: -1% to 2%; P = 0.86] and dropout [1%, 95%CI: -2% to 4%; P = 0.51]. However, a numerically higher risk of dizziness was noted among the IF alone subgroup with non-early time restricted eating [3%, 95%CI: -0% to 6%; P = 0.08].

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggested that IF was not associated with a greater risk of AEs in adult patients affected by overweight or obesity. Additional large-scale RCTs stratified by key confounders and designed to evaluate the long-term effects of various IF regimens are needed to ascertain these AEs profile.

Address: Ulink College of Shanghai, Shanghai, 201615, China.; Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.; Department of Clinical Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, China.; Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.; Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.; Clinical Medical Research Center for Plateau Gastroenterological disease of Xizang Autonomous Region, and School of Medicine , Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, 712082, China.; Clinical Medical Research Center for Plateau Gastroenterological disease of Xizang Autonomous Region, and School of Medicine , Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, 712082, China.; Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China. [email protected].; Clinical Medical Research Center for Plateau Gastroenterological disease of Xizang Autonomous Region, and School of Medicine , Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, 712082, China. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12937-024-00975-9

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https://medlineplus.gov/obesity.html

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https://assays.cancer.gov/non-CPTAC-1113

MeSH Terms: Adult, Humans, Dizziness, Fatigue, Headache, Intermittent Fasting, Obesity, Overweight, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic