According to a study by the American Heart Association, following 16:8 intermittent fasting, that is, limiting meal intake over 8 hours, is associated with a 91% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease over the course of time. long term.
- A study of more than 20,000 adults found that those who had an eating window limited to 8 hours had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
- Compared to a standard eating schedule of 12 to 16 hours per day, limiting food intake to less than 8 hours per day was not associated with longer life.
- Researchers say patients, especially those with heart disease or cancer, should be aware of the link between 16:8 intermittent fasting and an increased risk of cardiovascular death.
16:8 intermittent fasting is very popular, popular among other things for the weight and fat loss that it promotes. However, this practice, which consists of limiting eating to less than eight hours per day, would not be beneficial in the long term for heart health, according to a study by the American Heart Association.
The work, presented at the sessions of “Epidemiology and Prevention: Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health” of the association which are being held until March 21 in Chicago, show that 16:8 intermittent fasting is associated with a 91% higher risk of cardiovascular death.
Intermittent fasting: limit eating to 8 hours linked to risk of cardiovascular death
For this study, researchers examined the records of participants in the Annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted between 2003 and 2018 in the United States, then compared them to data on people who died in the United States, from 2003 to 2019. The analysis found that followers of the 16:8 intermittent diet had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. This effect was also observed in participants living with heart disease or cancer.
“Among people with existing cardiovascular disease, an eating window of 8 to 10 hours per day was also associated with a 66% higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke.”add the authors.
The study also ensures that a limited diet over time did not reduce the overall risk of death, whatever the cause.
Intermittent fasting: you need to be aware of the association
“We were surprised to find that people who had an eating window limited to 8 hours were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Although this type of diet is popular because of its potential short-term benefits, our Research clearly shows that, compared to a typical meal duration of 12 to 16 hours per day, shorter meal duration is not associated with longer life.”explains the lead author of the study, Dr Victor Wenze Zhong in a communicated.
“It is crucial that patients, especially those with heart disease or cancer, are aware of the association between an 8-hour eating window and an increased risk of cardiovascular death.” For him, his work encourages the implementation of a personalized approach to dietary recommendations. However, he specifies: “Although the study identified an association between an 8-hour eating window and cardiovascular death, this does not mean that time-restricted eating results in cardiovascular death.”
The expert acknowledges that further research is needed to examine the biological mechanisms underlying the observed associations between restricted eating window and cardiovascular problems, and whether similar findings are recorded in other parts of the world.
