Effectiveness of intermittent fasting to potentiate weight loss or muscle gains in humans younger than 60 years old: a systematic review.

5 Repeated evidence

How much this weighs: several studies in people, combined — the strongest kind of evidence there is.

Type of study: meta-analysis or systematic review
Studied in: people
Participants: not stated in the abstract
Published: 2021 in International journal of food sciences and nutrition
Cited: 8 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 33397167 · doi 10.1080/09637486.2020.1868412

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

The aim was to determinate if the intermittent fasting enhances weight loss or muscle gains in humans younger than 60 years old. Multiple databases were searched up to May 2020 for studies in English, using MeSH terms and text words relating intermittent fasting, weight loss and muscle gains. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Study quality was assessed using NICE methodology. A total of 10 original articles were evaluated. Eight papers collected data through randomised controlled trials and two from cross-sectional study. Intermittent fasting could be beneficial in resistance trained subjects or in overweight individuals to improve body composition by decreasing fat mass and at least maintain muscle mass; decrease in GLP-1 levels and; improving health-related biomarkers such glucose and insulin levels. However, future studies are needed in order to better elucidate the effect of intermittent fasting on body composition.