Intermittent fasting, a popular approach for weight loss and inflammation reduction, has come under scrutiny as the American Heart Association (AHA) reveals disturbing findings about the practice.
Speaking at the association’s conference in Chicago, senior study author Victor Wenze Zhong cautioned against the potential risks associated with an eight-hour time-restricted eating schedule.
“While our study identified an association between an eight-hour eating window and cardiovascular death, it’s crucial to note that this does not imply causation,” Zhong emphasised.
The study, drawing on data from approximately 20,000 adults in the U.S. between 2003 and 2018, analysed dietary patterns and mortality rates. Participants, averaging 49 years of age, documented their food intake over at least two days within a year. Results compared dietary habits with mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Key findings from the study, published by the American Heart Association include:
– Adults consuming meals within an eight-hour window faced a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
– Individuals with pre-existing heart disease or cancer showed an increased risk of cardiovascular death.
– Eating within an eight to ten-hour window correlated with a 66% higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke for those with existing cardiovascular conditions.
– Overall mortality risk did not decrease with intermittent fasting.
– For cancer patients, an eating window of 16 hours or more lowered the risk of cancer mortality.
Christopher Gardner, director of nutrition studies at Stanford University, emphasised the need for a personalised approach to dietary recommendations, considering an individual’s health status and the latest scientific evidence.
“Our study’s findings advocate for a more cautious approach to dietary recommendations,” Gardner stated.
“The nutrient quality of diets must be scrutinized to understand if nutrient density could be an alternate explanation to the findings.”
Further research is imperative to comprehend the biological mechanisms underlying the association between time-restricted eating and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The AHA stressed the necessity of examining how these findings may vary depending on participants’ geographical locations.
Despite these concerns, intermittent fasting has shown potential benefits in improving cardiometabolic health measures such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels, according to the AHA.
“Our research highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of dietary interventions,” Zhong remarked. “It’s evident that a shorter eating duration does not necessarily equate to a longer lifespan.”
As the debate on intermittent fasting’s safety continues, experts advocate for comprehensive studies to elucidate its impact on overall health and well-being.
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