A review on the effects of intermittent fasting on lipid profile parameters in overweight adults

Abstract

This review aimed at systematically reviewing the effect of intermittent fasting (IF) on the lipid profile parameters, namely total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) in a population of overweight adults. Intermittent fasting, in fact, is one of the most popular diets and a metabolic health benefit is the most cited amongst its various reasons. Nevertheless, it seems that the fasting diet thing actually positively influences only the overweight or the obese, which subsequently more these claims need to be clarified. To achieve a systematic review, a detailed literature search on major databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was done. Specific search terms and inclusion criteria were applied, focusing on randomized controlled trials involving adults with a BMI of 25 kg/m² or more.  The review process, which is depicted with a PRISMA flow diagram, screened 610 articles. 35 studies were finally included after going through a large set of criteria. This systematic review confirms that the evaluated weight management interventions demonstrate a robust efficacy profile for weight reduction and metabolic improvement while maintaining an acceptable safety and tolerability margin in overweight adults.