Work

Evaluation of the effect of different intermittent fasting regimens on metabolic parameters in healthy male Wistar rats

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different intermittent fasting regimens on metabolic parameters in healthy rats and compare them with caloric restriction. A total of fifty adult male Wistar rats (±90 days old) were randomised into 5 groups: control group (CON), caloric restriction group (CR), time-restricted feeding group (TRF), alternate-day fasting (ADF) group and alternate-day modified fasting group (ADMF). ADF and ADMF stood out for improving the metabolic parameters in healthy rats by presenting improvements in glucose parameters, greatest weight loss (ADF v . CON: −16·50 ( sd 6·16) g; effect size = −5·34; 95 % CI: −7·05, −3·04; P < 0·001; ADMF v . CON: –21·88 ( sd 6·66) g; effect size = −5·83; 95 % CI: −7·66, −3·36; P < 0·001) and higher HDL (ADF v . CON: 141·50 ( sd 10·17) mg/dl; effect size = 3·03; 95 % CI: 1·01, 4·45; P < 0·001; ADMF v . CON: 133·10 ( sd 5·94) mg/dl; effect size = 3·37; 95 % CI: 1·22, 4·86; P = 0·004). Additionally, ADMF presented a smaller adipocyte area among the fasting regimens (13·92 ( sd 2·06) area/µm 2 ; effect size = −4·20; 95 % CI: −5·45, −2·66; P < 0·001 v . CON), in addition to presenting muscle fibre hypertrophy (71·20 ( sd 5·16) area/µm 2 ; effect size = 2·93; 95 % CI: 1·57, 4·05; P < 0·001 v . CON), followed by ADF (adipocyte area: 19·25 ( sd 0·87) area/µm 2 ; effect size = −2·19; 95 % CI: −3·12, −1·12; P = 0·003 v . CON; muscle fibre: 53·80 ( sd 6·61) area/µm 2 ; effect size = 2·93; 95 % CI: 1·57, 4·05; P = 0·566 v . ADMF). The ADF and ADMF groups were more effective among the intermittent fasting regimens analysed in promoting improvements in metabolic parameters in healthy rats.

Source: British Journal Of Nutrition

DOI: 10.1017/s0007114525106120