Intermittent Fasting Practitioners Who Restrict Daily Eating Time to 8 Hours Are 91% More Likely to Die From Heart-Related Diseases [Study]

Intermittent Fasting Practitioners Who Restrict Daily Eating Time to 8 Hours Are 91% More Likely To Die From Heart-Related Diseases [Study]
(Photo: Pexels/Enric Cruz Lopez)

Intermittent fasting offers several health benefits. However, it also has some disadvantages, according to researchers.

Intermittent Fasting Link To Heart Diseases

A new study from a university in Shanghai discovered some drawbacks to intermittent fasting, an eating pattern that is a cycle of eating and fasting that occurs throughout certain times. Those who reportedly restrict their daily eating time to only eight hours are reportedly at 91 percent risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who follow a normal eating schedule. The study was presented at Chicago's American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024.

According to study author Victor Wenze Zhong, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Shanghai, China, cutting back on daily eating time to a short window of time, like eight hours a day, has become increasingly popular in recent years as a means of improving heart health and losing weight. Time-restricted eating may have uncertain long-term health consequences, such as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or mortality from any cause.

The study, which examined data from more than 20,000 persons in the United States, discovered that people on the 16/8 diet had a 91% higher chance of passing away from cardiovascular disease than people on a regular, non-intermittent diet.

Time-restricted eating did not lower the overall risk of mortality from any cause, but it did increase the risk of death from heart disease or stroke by 66 percent for those with pre-existing cardiovascular illness who ate between 8 and 10 hours of the day.

Additionally, the researchers discovered that those who ate more than 16 hours a day had a decreased risk of mortality and that those who had cancer or heart disease had an increased likelihood of dying from cardiovascular illness.

"We were surprised to find that people who followed an 8-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Even though this type of diet has been popular due to its potential short-term benefits, 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," Zhong said.

He added that patients need to know that eating within an 8-hour window increases the risk of cardiovascular death, especially if they already have cancer or heart issues. The study's results reportedly support a more cautious, individualized approach to dietary recommendations, making sure that they are in line with the most recent scientific discoveries and each person's health situation. One should note, however, that time-restricted eating did not cause cardiovascular death, even though the study found a link between an 8-hour eating window and cardiovascular death.

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Intermittent Fasting Could Protect You From Neurodegenerative Diseases

Intermittent fasting may give the brain a different energy source and protection against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, claims Hayley O'Neill, assistant professor at Bond University's Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine. She added that ancient Greeks believed fasting was supposed to improve thinking, so the findings were not new.

Many intermittent fasting plans aim to activate a "metabolic switch" that causes the body to use fat instead of carbs as its main energy source. This is referred to as ketosis, and it often occurs 12 to 16 hours after the fast, when the liver's reserves of glycogen are depleted. The chemicals produced during this metabolic process, known as ketones, are the preferred energy source for the brain.

Ketosis is characterized by a slower metabolic process for energy production, a tendency to reduce blood sugar, hunger, fatigue, nausea, sadness, irritability, constipation, migraines, and "fog" in the brain.

Just as the brain's capacity to metabolize glucose decreases, studies have shown that ketones may provide an alternative energy source to sustain brain function and ward against age-related neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive loss.