Fasting Research Roundup · Monthly
Fasting Research Roundup: Studies published Sep 25 - Oct 25, 2026
Edition of · By Michael Gonzales
Twelve human studies on intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating and alternate-day fasting published between Sep 25 and Oct 25, 2026. Each summary states what the study looked at, who took part and what the authors reported.
- 50PubMed records matching the search this monthPubMed records with publication date 2026/09/25 to 2026/10/25 returned on 2026-10-25 by the query ("intermittent fasting"[tiab] OR "time-restricted eating"[tiab] OR "time restricted eating"[tiab] OR "alternate-day fasting"[tiab] OR "alternate day fasting"[tiab] OR "periodic fasting"[tiab]) NOT (animals[mh] NOT humans[mh]). The count includes reviews, letters, notices and recent records not yet tagged by species, so a few animal studies are included.
- 5Randomized trialsReports from human randomized trials among the 50 records, counted by reading each abstract. Includes one qualitative analysis of a trial; excludes trial protocols.
- 7Reviews and meta-analysesSystematic reviews and meta-analyses among the 50 records. Narrative reviews are not counted.
- 12Studies summarized here
Randomized trials
Mediterranean diet, twice-weekly fasting days and inflammation
A 16-week randomized controlled-feeding trial in 53 adults with metabolic risk factors (77% female, mean age 54.7 years) compared a fully provided Mediterranean diet with participants' habitual western diet for 8 weeks, after which both groups added two fasting days per week for a further 8 weeks. The primary outcome, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, did not change during the diet-only phase; after fasting began, it fell in the Mediterranean-diet group relative to controls, alongside greater weight loss and lower blood pressure. The authors conclude that negative energy balance and weight loss during fasting appear to be stronger drivers than diet quality alone.
Time-restricted eating and interval training in women
This prespecified secondary analysis of a 2 x 2 factorial randomised controlled trial assigned 131 women aged 18-45 with overweight or obesity (median BMI 30.7) to time-restricted eating (a daily eating window of 10 hours or less), high-intensity interval training, both, or control for 7 weeks. No interaction between the two was detected. In intention-to-treat analyses, time-restricted eating reduced body weight (-3.36 kg), fat mass (-1.53 kg) and visceral fat area (-12.82 cm2), but also reduced muscle mass (-0.80 kg) and modestly lowered HDL cholesterol.
Time-restricted eating and thyroid hormones in type 2 diabetes
An exploratory analysis of a randomized, crossover, open-label study in 39 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes and no known thyroid disease compared 6 weeks of time-restricted eating with 6 weeks of standard lifestyle. Weight change was -2.93 kg during time-restricted eating versus 0.59 kg during standard lifestyle (mean difference -3.50 kg, P < .001). There were no significant differences between the two periods in TSH, free T4, free T3 or reverse T3.
Source: Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2026 (PMID 42819508)
Protein or leucine supplements during alternate-day fasting in older men
Sixty-one older men (BMI 23.0 or higher) followed 28 days of alternate-day fasting and were randomized to one of three calorie-matched supplement groups: control, leucine or protein. There were no significant group interactions in body composition, sarcopenia measures or other outcomes, except diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.016) and HDL cholesterol (p = 0.013). Across all groups, body composition measures (excluding bone mineral density), systolic blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides decreased over time. Design: randomized controlled trial.
Source: Nutrients, 2026 (PMID 42884706)
Reviews and meta-analyses
Time-restricted eating and blood glucose markers in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled ten randomised controlled trials with 599 adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, comparing time-restricted eating (eating windows of 4 to 10 hours; mean study length 4 months) with a non-time-restricted control diet. There was no overall effect on HbA1c (-3.33 mmol/mol; 95% CI -6.87 to 0.20; p = 0.06); in the prediabetes subgroup HbA1c was 0.93 mmol/mol lower (p = 0.02). Fasting blood glucose was lower in the pooled analysis (-0.30 mmol/l; 95% CI -0.53 to -0.07; moderate certainty), and body weight was 1.6 kg lower.
Comparing fasting schedules in steatotic liver disease
This systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis included 19 randomized controlled trials with 1,149 adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, comparing time-restricted feeding, alternate-day fasting and the 5:2 diet with each other or with non-fasting controls. Time-restricted feeding ranked highest for reducing hepatic steatosis (mean difference -23.32 dB/m), followed by the 5:2 diet; none of the regimens significantly changed liver stiffness. Alternate-day fasting showed the largest reductions in body weight, waist circumference and body fat, and the 5:2 diet and time-restricted feeding both reduced the liver enzymes ALT and AST.
Time-restricted feeding with resistance training and fat-free mass
This systematic review and meta-analysis included 5 randomized controlled trials with 120 healthy adults doing strength training, comparing time-restricted feeding with conventional diets. Only 2 of the 5 studies showed a statistically significant difference in body weight and fat mass. The pooled estimate for fat-free mass was -0.48 kg (95% CI -2.52 to 1.56), which did not differ significantly from zero.
Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 2026 (PMID 42879592)
Nutrition studies in shift workers, including time-restricted eating
This systematic review screened 6,909 articles and included 43 intervention and observational studies of diet in shift workers; the abstract does not give a total participant count. Time-restricted eating was among the most frequent intervention components (21% of studies), after macronutrient adjustments (23%). The authors concluded that the current evidence base is insufficient to formulate evidence-based dietary guidelines for shift workers, citing heterogeneity, small samples and moderate-to-high risk of bias.
Source: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2026 (PMID 42820931)
Other human studies
Pilot of time-restricted eating in early Huntington's disease
A 12-week open-label pilot trial tested an 8-hour eating window, alongside standard-of-care diet and activity recommendations, in 20 people with early-stage Huntington's disease. The authors report it was feasible, well tolerated and associated with favourable changes in clinical measures of the disease and in plasma neurofilament light levels; the abstract does not give effect sizes. Design: single-arm pilot with no control group.
Eating window, sleep and CLOCK gene variants in 12,092 adults
This cross-sectional analysis of 12,092 adults examined self-reported eating window, sleep duration and two CLOCK gene variants. An eating window of 8 hours or less per day was associated with lower odds of obesity (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.75-0.90), type 2 diabetes (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.99) and hypertension (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.95). The authors note that prospective studies are needed to confirm these associations.
A 16:8 schedule and blood fatty acids
Thirty-nine normal-weight and overweight or obese participants followed a 16:8 eating schedule, with measurements at baseline and after 4 weeks. Across the group, plasma arachidonic acid and the delta-5-desaturase index increased and the EPA/arachidonic acid ratio decreased, while red blood cell fatty acids were largely unchanged; overweight or obese participants showed reductions in body weight, BMI, liver fat content and GGT. Design: single-group before-and-after study; the abstract describes no control group.
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2026 (PMID 42456402)
Ramadan fasting and injuries in elite youth footballers
A 13-week prospective observational cohort followed 101 elite male youth football players before, during and after Ramadan. Injury incidence rose from 3.76 to 6.83 per 1,000 hours during Ramadan (RR 1.816, 95% CI 0.904-3.651), and injury burden rose from 55.16 to 111.68 days per 1,000 hours. Perceived training load increased, and the share of energy from protein fell from 26.30% to 23.01%.
Source: European Journal of Sport Science, 2026 (PMID 42717268)
Sources
- PubMed, searched via NCBI E-utilities (esearch and efetch) (checked October 25, 2026)
Summaries describe what each study reported. They are not medical advice.
Studies were found with a PubMed search by publication date (Sep 25 - Oct 25, 2026). PubMed counts change as new records are indexed.
Results are as stated in each study's published abstract; full papers were not reviewed.
Written by
Michael Gonzales
Health & fitness consultant
Michael has a diverse set of skills and passions, with a full-time career as an airline pilot and a dedicated focus on health and fitness consulting. He understands the importance of balancing a busy lifestyle with maintaining a healthy mind and body, and is committed to helping others achieve the same success. Michael's expertise in health and fitness is not just limited to physical training, but also extends to nutrition, stress management, and overall wellbeing. He takes a holistic approach to health and fitness, helping clients to achieve their goals in a sustainable and fulfilling way. With a strong desire to inspire and motivate others, Michael is always ready to share his time and knowledge with those who seek his guidance. Whether in the air or on the ground, Michael is dedicated to helping others live their best lives.