Hello everyone,
Here is a summary of the new research [1] on heart health with very practical implications. I have to say upfront: the text version below is a bit technical. If you forgot your school lesson about the way the heart works :) - you may prefer the 11 minute audio version above.
What is New?
* Improved Left Ventricular Function: Intermittent fasting significantly improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-STEMI compared to a regular diet.
* Reduced Blood Pressure and Weight: Intermittent fasting significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure and body weight.
* Safety and Adherence: Intermittent fasting was safe and well-tolerated, with high patient adherence (median 83.7% of days fasted).
What are the Clinical Implications?
* Potential for Improved Outcomes: Intermittent fasting shows promise as a safe and effective intervention for improving cardiac function and clinical outcomes in post-MI patients.
Key Findings of the INTERFAST-MI Trial:
* Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, non-blinded, single-center pilot trial.
* Participants: 48 patients with STEMI randomized to either intermittent fasting or a regular diet for 6 months.
* Intervention: Intermittent fasting involved a regular diet for no more than 8 hours per day, alternating with fasting for at least 16 hours per day.
* Primary Outcome: Change in LVEF at 4 weeks.
Key Results:
* Primary Outcome: Significant improvement in LVEF in the intermittent fasting group compared to the control group (mean difference: 6.636% vs. 1.450%; P=0.038). This effect persisted and was even more pronounced at 3 and 6 months.
* Secondary Outcomes:Significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure in the intermittent fasting group.
* Greater reduction in body weight in the intermittent fasting group.
* No adverse events related to fasting were reported.
Important Quotes:
* "These results suggest that intermittent fasting following acute myocardial infarction is safe and holds promise to support myocardial recovery and regeneration."
Overall:
The INTERFAST-MI trial provides compelling preliminary evidence for the safety and potential benefit of intermittent fasting after STEMI.
Read our blog post about the positive impact of intermittent fasting on blood pressure
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References
