Alternate day fasting for weight loss in normal weight and overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial
- PMID: 24215592
- PMCID: PMC3833266
- DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-12-146
Alternate day fasting for weight loss in normal weight and overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Alternate day fasting (ADF; ad libitum "feed day", alternated with 25% energy intake "fast day"), is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese individuals. Whether these effects occur in normal weight and overweight individuals remains unknown. This study examined the effect of ADF on body weight and coronary heart disease risk in non-obese subjects.
Methods: Thirty-two subjects (BMI 20-29.9 kg/m2) were randomized to either an ADF group or a control group for 12 weeks.
Results: Body weight decreased (P < 0.001) by 5.2 ± 0.9 kg (6.5 ± 1.0%) in the ADF group, relative to the control group, by week 12. Fat mass was reduced (P < 0.001) by 3.6 ± 0.7 kg, and fat free mass did not change, versus controls. Triacylglycerol concentrations decreased (20 ± 8%, P < 0.05) and LDL particle size increased (4 ± 1 Å, P < 0.01) in the ADF group relative to controls. CRP decreased (13 ± 17%, P < 0.05) in the ADF group relative to controls at week 12. Plasma adiponectin increased (6 ± 10%, P < 0.01) while leptin decreased (40 ± 7%, P < 0.05) in the ADF group versus controls by the end of the study. LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, homocysteine and resistin concentrations remained unchanged after 12 weeks of treatment.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that ADF is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in normal weight and overweight adults, though further research implementing larger sample sizes is required before solid conclusion can be reached.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3833266/bin/1475-2891-12-146-1.gif)
![Figure 2](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3833266/bin/1475-2891-12-146-2.gif)
Similar articles
-
Intermittent Fasting and Sleep: A Review of Human Trials.Nutrients. 2021 Oct 1;13(10):3489. doi: 10.3390/nu13103489. Nutrients. 2021. PMID: 34684490 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Intermittent fasting vs daily calorie restriction for type 2 diabetes prevention: a review of human findings.Transl Res. 2014 Oct;164(4):302-11. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2014.05.013. Epub 2014 Jun 12. Transl Res. 2014. PMID: 24993615 Review.
-
Alternate day fasting (ADF) with a high-fat diet produces similar weight loss and cardio-protection as ADF with a low-fat diet.Metabolism. 2013 Jan;62(1):137-43. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2012.07.002. Epub 2012 Aug 11. Metabolism. 2013. PMID: 22889512 Clinical Trial.
-
Improvements in coronary heart disease risk indicators by alternate-day fasting involve adipose tissue modulations.Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Nov;18(11):2152-9. doi: 10.1038/oby.2010.54. Epub 2010 Mar 18. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010. PMID: 20300080 Clinical Trial.
-
Short-term modified alternate-day fasting: a novel dietary strategy for weight loss and cardioprotection in obese adults.Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov;90(5):1138-43. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28380. Epub 2009 Sep 30. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009. PMID: 19793855
Cited by
-
Intermittent Fasting-Improved Glucose Homeostasis Is Not Entirely Dependent on Caloric Restriction in db/db Male Mice.Diabetes. 2024 Jun 1;73(6):864-878. doi: 10.2337/db23-0157. Diabetes. 2024. PMID: 38502858 Free PMC article.
-
Fasting diets: what are the impacts on eating behaviors, sleep, mood, and well-being?Front Nutr. 2024 Jan 9;10:1256101. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1256101. eCollection 2023. Front Nutr. 2024. PMID: 38264193 Free PMC article. Review.
-
InterVFast-effectiveness and acceptance of intermittent fasting in cardiac rehabilitation patients: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2024 Jan 9;25(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07843-7. Trials. 2024. PMID: 38195578 Free PMC article.
-
A Review of Healthy Dietary Choices for Cardiovascular Disease: From Individual Nutrients and Foods to Dietary Patterns.Nutrients. 2023 Nov 23;15(23):4898. doi: 10.3390/nu15234898. Nutrients. 2023. PMID: 38068756 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Non-invasive omics analysis delineates molecular changes in water-only fasting and its sex-discriminating features in metabolic syndrome patients.MedComm (2020). 2023 Nov 2;4(6):e393. doi: 10.1002/mco2.393. eCollection 2023 Dec. MedComm (2020). 2023. PMID: 37929015 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Varady KA, Hellerstein MK. Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86:7–13. - PubMed
-
- Bhutani S, Klempel MC, Kroeger CM, Trepanowski JF, Varady KA. Alternate day fasting and endurance exercise combine to reduce body weight and favorably alter plasma lipids in obese humans. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2013. Epub ahead of print. - PubMed
-
- Heilbronn LK, Smith SR, Martin CK, Anton SD, Ravussin E. Alternate-day fasting in nonobese subjects: effects on body weight, body composition, and energy metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:69–73. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Research Materials
Miscellaneous