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Intermittent fasting is gaining attention for its potential health benefits – from weight loss to reduced blood pressure to improving insulin sensitivity – but we have not known if everyone benefits equally. Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance leader Satchin Panda and colleagues’ recent study in Cell Reports sheds light on the question, showing which benefits of intermittent fasting hold regardless of age or sex.

Panda’s team implemented a form of intermittent fasting called time-restricted feeding, where food intake occurs within an 8- to 12-hour window every day. Their experiments in mice who followed this regimen over 12 weeks showed protection against fatty liver disease and glucose intolerance regardless of sex or age. However, intriguingly, only the male mice reaped additional benefits in terms of body weight, muscle mass, and muscle performance.  

Panda will continue this work as part of the Alliance to better understand the differential benefits of the time-restricted feeding approach and translate these impactful findings from animal studies to human health. 

Read the full scientific article in Cell Reports