A new study has raised concerns about the long-term safety of intermittent fasting, suggesting that while the diet trend may help with short-term weight loss, it could also increase the risk of serious heart-related complications.
Published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, the study analysed health data from nearly 19,000 US adults with different eating patterns.
Key Findings
Researchers found that participants who restricted eating to less than eight hours a day had a 135% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to those who followed a typical 12–14-hour eating window.
The authors noted that more studies are needed to confirm whether the increased risk is directly linked to shorter eating periods or influenced by other lifestyle and dietary factors.
Expert Concerns
Dr. Anoop Misra, chairman of Fortis C-DOC and editorial head of the journal, said one issue with intermittent fasting is that people often eat unhealthy foods during non-fasting hours.
“Some studies have shown increased LDL cholesterol levels in such cases, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular mortality,” he explained.
Nutritionist Dr. Ishi Khosla added that extreme dieting can trigger nutritional deficiencies over time.
“Deficiencies in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes can occur. In some cases, magnesium deficiency may even lead to serious cardiac events. Sudden death due to arrhythmias and chronic inflammation are also possible,” she warned.
Should You Try Intermittent Fasting?
Experts stress that while intermittent fasting can be effective for weight control, it should be:
- Individualised based on health status.
- Supervised by a medical professional, especially for people with pre-existing conditions.
- Practiced for the short term until more long-term safety data is available.
The researchers emphasised that enthusiasm around intermittent fasting should be balanced with careful risk assessment to avoid unintended health consequences.
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