While more studies are necessary, some research suggests that intermittent fasting may increase the risk of dying from heart disease. However, intermittent fasting may also benefit heart health.

Intermittent fasting is a type of eating plan that involves eating only during a specific window of time every day and then not eating, or fasting, the rest of the time. For example, a person may choose to eat between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and then fast the rest of the day.

This article explains whether there are links between intermittent fasting and heart disease. It also looks at whether intermittent fasting can improve heart health.

It’s unclear whether intermittent fasting can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

According to recent preliminary research, time-restricted eating was associated with an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. Time-restricted eating is a type of intermittent fasting.

Among the 20,078 U.S. adults included in the study, 840 cardiovascular deaths occurred.

Researchers suggest that having an eating window of under 8 hours per day was significantly associated with an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular issues, specifically compared with an eating window of 12 to 16 hours.

The research also suggests that no other eating window was associated with cardiovascular deaths, aside from an eating window of 8 to under 10 hours in people with cardiovascular disease.

However, this is a memory recall study with limited data, so it’s difficult to draw conclusions. More research is necessary.

According to the British Heart Foundation, 16:8 fasting is one of the most common intermittent fasting schedules. It involves eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.

It’s best to speak with a doctor before trying intermittent fasting. It may not be suitable for people with existing cardiovascular disease.

Few studies have looked at the long-term effects of intermittent fasting on heart health.

However, a 2024 study suggests that there may be some heart health benefits to intermittent fasting. Researchers looked at systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials to determine the possible health benefits of intermittent fasting.

They found that intermittent fasting could reduce:

Lowering your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels can help reduce the likelihood of conditions such as heart attack and stroke.

Researchers also found that intermittent fasting helped increase fat-free mass. Compared with fat mass, an increase in fat-free mass may help protect against heart failure. Modified alternate-day fasting may be more beneficial for reducing fat mass.

According to the research, intermittent fasting also increases HDL (good) cholesterol in people with overweight or obesity.

This suggests that intermittent fasting may be beneficial for some people. It’s best to speak with a doctor to discuss the possible benefits and risks before beginning intermittent fasting.

Anybody with heart disease should exercise caution with intermittent fasting and discuss it with their doctor. Time-restricted eating may increase the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease.

Intermittent fasting may also be unsafe for people who:

  • are under 18 years old
  • are over 75 years old
  • have diabetes
  • are pregnant or nursing
  • are underweight
  • have a history of eating disorders or disordered eating
  • take medications

Intermittent fasting may also be unsafe for children and teenagers who are still growing.

It’s best to contact a doctor if you’re considering intermittent fasting. A doctor can provide more information about the risks and benefits based on your individual circumstances.

Also contact a doctor if you have concerns about the risks of heart disease or if you want to discuss an existing treatment plan for heart disease.

While there have been few long-term studies about the benefits and risks of intermittent fasting, some preliminary research suggests that intermittent fasting may increase the risk of death due to heart disease.

This is particularly true with the 16:8 approach to intermittent fasting, which involves eating during an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.

However, some other research suggests that intermittent fasting can improve heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It may also help lower waist circumference, which can help reduce the likelihood of heart disease.

Talk with your doctor for more information about the possible benefits and risks of intermittent fasting based on your individual circumstances.