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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice

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Published on: November 27, 2019

Intermittent Fasting: Does It Affect Sports Performance? A Systematic Review.

Javier Conde-Pipó¹, Agustín Mora-Fernandez¹, Manuel Martinez-Bebia²

¹Health Science and Nutrition Research (HSNR, CTS-1118), Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Granada, Campus of Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.

|January 11, 2024

Summary

Intermittent fasting aids athletes by improving body composition and maintaining muscle mass without hindering sports performance. Further research is needed on specific fasting protocols for athletes.

Keywords:

athletic performance exercise fasting strategies sport nutrition

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Area of Science:

Sports Science
Nutritional Science
Human Performance

Background:

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular dietary strategy, particularly for weight loss.
Its specific effects on athletic performance and body composition require detailed analysis.

Approach:

A systematic review of 25 research articles published between 2013 and present.
Studies focused on adult human athletes, assessing IF's impact on aerobic/anaerobic capacity, strength, power, and body composition.
Quality and risk of bias assessments were performed; the review is registered in PROSPERO (ref. 407024).

Key Points:

Intermittent fasting demonstrates positive effects on body composition, including muscle mass maintenance.
Athletic performance metrics such as aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, strength, and power were evaluated.
Results indicate potential benefits for body composition without compromising physical performance.

Conclusions:

Intermittent fasting can enhance body composition and maximum power output in athletes while preserving lean mass.
Current evidence suggests IF is compatible with maintaining physical performance.
Further research is recommended to explore varied IF durations and specific protocols, like overnight fasting, in athletic populations.