Effects of intermittent fasting on blood pressure, serum lipid profile and glucose – A review of clinical and experimental evidence.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Lifestyle modification is at the forefront of CVD disease prevention. Lifestyle modification includes taking steps to increase physical activity and practising a healthy, balanced diet to lower risk factors for developing CVD. Intermittent fasting (IF) has increasingly become popular among subjects wanting to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight; it has also been reported to be associated with other health benefits as well. IF is an eating plan that alternates between fasting and eating on a regular schedule. Although there are no large, randomised controlled trials directly addressing intermittent fasting and cardiovascular outcomes, existing clinical and animal research suggest that IF may reduce the risk of CVD by improving cardiovascular risk factors. This review aims to introduce the topic of intermittent fasting and examine the effects of IF on CVD risk factors specifically effects on serum lipid profile, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Results from clinical and animal studies on these risk factors will be reviewed.