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Metabolic Impact of Intermittent Fasting in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Interventional Studies.
Meta-analysis of seven diet-controlled RCTs (n=338) in type 2 diabetes: intermittent fasting produced −1.89 kg greater weight loss versus regular diet without a statistically significant additional HbA1c reduction in the pooled model.
Design
- Systematic review + meta-analysis; 7 RCTs, n = 338 adults with type 2 diabetes (diet-controlled comparisons)
- Exposure: any intermittent fasting schedule vs regular diet control
Outcomes (random-effects; abstract)
- Body weight: −1.89 kg greater loss with IF vs regular diet (95% CI −2.91 to −0.86; I² = 21%, P = .28 for heterogeneity)
- HbA1c: −0.11% difference not statistically significant (95% CI −0.38% to 0.17%)
- Subgroup signals (exploratory): larger weight deltas when baseline BMI >36 (−3.43 kg) or study duration ≤4 months (−3.73 kg)
Evidence hygiene
Trials mix Ramadan-style, alternate-day, and time-restricted windows—read each diet arm before collapsing to a single “IF” label.
Publication
Borgundvaag E, Mak J, Kramer CK. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 8;106(3):902-911. PMID 33319233.
Outcomes
- Pooled greater weight loss with intermittent fasting vs regular diet: −1.89 kg (95% CI −2.91 to −0.86) across seven RCTs (n=338) per abstract.
- HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin)-0.11% (Absolute Change)