Relative to a non-diet control , IF and ERD are effective for the improvement of circulating TC , LDL-C , and TG concentrations , but have no meaningful effects on HDL-C concentration .
The present results suggest that these dietary practice s are a means of enhancing the lipid profile in humans
OBJECTIVES To the best of our knowledge , no systematic review and meta- analysis has evaluated the cholesterol-lowering effects of intermittent fasting ( IF ) and energy-restricted diets ( ERD ) compared with control groups .
The aim of this review and meta- analysis was to summarize the effects of controlled clinical trials examining the influence of IF and ERD on lipid profiles .
Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease
A periodic fasting diet improves markers of metabolic dysfunction , particularly in people already at risk .  Fasting : More than a fad Mice that fast periodically are healthier , metabolically speaking . To explore whether fasting can help people as well , Wei et al. studied 71 people who either consumed a fasting-mimicking diet for 5 days each month for 3 months or maintained their normal diet for 3 months and then switched to the fasting schedule .  The fasting-like diet reduced body weight and body fat , lowered blood pressure , and decreased the hormone IGF-1 , which has been implicated in aging and disease . A post hoc analysis replicated these results and also showed that fasting decreased BMI , glucose , triglycerides , cholesterol , and C-reactive protein ( a marker for inflammation ) . These effects were generally larger in the subjects who were at greater risk of disease at the start of the study . A larger study is needed to replicate these results , but they raise the possibility that fasting may be a practical road to a healthy metabolic system . Calorie restriction or changes in dietary composition can enhance healthy aging , but the inability of most subjects to adhere to chronic and extreme diets , as well as potentially adverse effects , limits their application . We r and omized 100 generally healthy participants from the United States into two study arms and tested the effects of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD)—low in calories , sugars , and protein but high in unsaturated fats — on markers/risk factors associated with aging and age-related diseases . We compared subjects who followed 3 months of an unrestricted diet to subjects who consumed the FMD for 5 consecutive days per month for 3 months . Three FMD cycles reduced body weight , trunk , and total body fat ; lowered blood pressure ; and decreased insulin-like growth factor 1 ( IGF-1 ) . No serious adverse effects were reported . After 3 months , control diet subjects were crossed over to the FMD program , result ing in a total of 71 subjects completing three FMD cycles . A post hoc analysis of subjects from both FMD arms showed that body mass index , blood pressure , fasting glucose , IGF-1 , triglycerides , total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and C-reactive protein were more beneficially affected in participants at risk for disease than in subjects who were not at risk . Thus , cycles of a 5-day FMD are safe , feasible , and effective in reducing markers/risk factors for aging and age-related diseases . Larger studies in patients with diagnosed diseases or selected on the basis of risk factors are warranted to confirm the effect of the FMD on disease prevention and treatment
Relative to a non-diet control , IF and ERD are effective for the improvement of circulating TC , LDL-C , and TG concentrations , but have no meaningful effects on HDL-C concentration .
The present results suggest that these dietary practice s are a means of enhancing the lipid profile in humans
OBJECTIVES To the best of our knowledge , no systematic review and meta- analysis has evaluated the cholesterol-lowering effects of intermittent fasting ( IF ) and energy-restricted diets ( ERD ) compared with control groups .
The aim of this review and meta- analysis was to summarize the effects of controlled clinical trials examining the influence of IF and ERD on lipid profiles .