Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Regulation of Metabolic Homeostasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Health and Metabolic-Related Disorders

Therapeutic Potential of Various Intermittent Fasting Regimens in Alleviating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes: A Narrative Review

Intermittent fasting has drawn significant interest in the clinical research community due to its potential to address metabolic complications such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Various intermittent fasting regimens include alternate-day fasting (24 h of fasting followed by 24 h of eating), time-restricted fasting (fasting for 14 h and eating within a 10 h window), and the 5:2 diet (fasting for two days and eating normally for the other five days). Intermittent fasting is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus-related complications and can slow their progression. The increasing global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus highlights the importance of early management. Since prediabetes is a precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus, understanding its progression is essential. However, the long-term effects of intermittent fasting on prediabetes are not yet well understood. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively compile existing knowledge on the therapeutic effects of intermittent fasting in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes.

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Challenges in Providing an Overview of Results of Intermittent Fasting Interventions on Diabetes Parameters. Comment on Silva et al. Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Regulation of Metabolic Homeostasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Health and Metabolic-Related Disorders. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 3699

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Intermittent Fasting in Youth: A Scoping Review

Intermittent fasting (IF) focuses on the timing of eating rather than diet quality or energy intake, with evidence supporting its effects on weight loss and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. However, there is limited evidence for its efficacy in adolescents and emerging adults. To address this, a scoping review examined IF regimens in individuals aged 10 to 25, focusing on methodology, intervention parameters, outcomes, adherence, feasibility, and efficacy. The review included 39 studies with 731 participants aged 15 to 25. Methodologies varied, with 18 studies on time-restricted eating and others requiring caloric restriction. Primary outcomes included cardiometabolic risk factors (11/29), body composition (9/29), anthropometric measurements (8/29), and feasibility (2/29). Most studies reported significant weight loss. This review underscores IF's potential in treating obesity in this age group but highlights the need for rigorous studies with standardized frameworks for feasibility to ensure comparability and determine IF's practicality in this age group.

Chrononutrition in the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Disorders: A Literature Review

BACKGROUND

The concept of time-restricted eating (TRE) or time-restricted feeding (TRF) promotes daily periods of feeding and fasting to determine whole-body physiology. Chronic misalignment of circadian rhythms or chrono-disruption is related to an increased risk of diverse metabolic disorders. The progression of non-communicable diseases seems to be affected by the timing of meals. As a result, intermittent fasting is a promising approach for their management. The aim of the present literature review is to examine and scrutinize the TRE protocols in the fields of prevention and management of metabolic disorders.

METHODS

This is a thorough literature review of the reported associations among circadian rhythm, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, TRE, TRF, dietary habits, circadian disruption, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver to find the already existing clinical studies from the last decade (2014-2024) in the most precise scientific online databases, using relevant specific keywords. Several inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to scrutinize only longitudinal, cross-sectional, descriptive, and prospective clinical human studies.

RESULTS

The currently available clinical findings remain scarce and suggest that chrononutrition behaviors such as TRE or TRF may promote several metabolic benefits, mainly in body weight control and fat loss. Improvements in glucose levels and lipid profiles are currently quite controversial since some clinical studies show little or no effect. As far as liver diseases are concerned, the efficacy of intermittent fasting seems to be stronger in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease due to body weight decline and fat loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Even if there has been a gradual increase in clinical studies in the last few years, providing promising perspectives, currently, there is no conclusive evidence for the role of chrononutrition in metabolic disorders. Future studies should be well-designed with longer duration and larger sample sizes. Moreover, it is important to examine the best timing of the eating window and its feasibility.

Diabesity and Dietary Interventions: Evaluating the Impact of Mediterranean Diet and Other Types of Diets on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Management

BACKGROUND

Diabesity, the intersection of obesity and diabetes, presents a global health crisis with profound implications. Addressing diabesity requires multifaceted strategies, with diet playing a pivotal role. Over the last 15 years, clinical studies have intensified their exploration of various dietary approaches in diabesity management. This literature review aims to synthesize findings from clinical studies conducted in the last 15 years, shedding light on the efficacy, mechanisms, and nuances of different diet types in diabesity management with special focus on the Mediterranean diet (MD).

METHODS

Thorough research of academic databases yielded a collection of relevant clinical studies. These studies encompassed a range of dietary strategies, including the MD, low-carbohydrate diets, plant-based diets, high-protein diets, low-fat regimens, and intermittent fasting. Key findings, methodologies, and outcomes were thoroughly extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

The last 15 years have witnessed considerable improvements in recognizing the role of human nutritional habits in diabesity management. The MD appears to be the most well-recognized diet, exerting favorable effects against both obesity and diabetes. Low-carbohydrate diets were found to enhance glycemic regulation and decrease insulin resistance. Plant-based diets demonstrated potential benefits in weight management and cardiometabolic health. High-protein, low-fat dietary models exhibited positive effects on satiety and body weight decline. Intermittent fasting regimens also exerted metabolic improvements and body weight decline. Personalization emerged as a crucial factor in dietary recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical studies from the last 15 years underscore the intricate relationship between diet types and diabesity management. The above results contribute to an increasing body of evidence, emphasizing the need for tailored dietary approaches and especially the MD. Healthcare providers can utilize this knowledge to offer personalized dietary recommendations for individuals with diabesity, potentially curbing the rise of these twin epidemics and improving the well-being of affected populations.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk Parameters through Intermittent Fasting: A Machine Learning Approach

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. Despite the availability of pharmacological treatments, dietary plans, and exercise regimens, T2DM remains a significant global cause of mortality. As a result, there is an increasing interest in exploring lifestyle interventions, such as intermittent fasting (IF). This study aims to identify underlying patterns and principles for effectively improving T2DM risk parameters through IF. By analyzing data from multiple randomized clinical trials investigating various IF interventions in humans, a machine learning algorithm was employed to develop a personalized recommendation system. This system offers guidance tailored to pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals, suggesting the most suitable IF interventions to improve T2DM risk parameters. With a success rate of 95%, this recommendation system provides highly individualized advice, optimizing the benefits of IF for diverse population subgroups. The outcomes of this study lead us to conclude that weight is a crucial feature for females, while age plays a determining role for males in reducing glucose levels in blood. By revealing patterns in diabetes risk parameters among individuals, this study not only offers practical guidance but also sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of T2DM, contributing to a deeper understanding of this complex metabolic disorder.