A National Study Exploring the Association between Fasting Duration and Mortality among the Elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Weight management is crucial, with time-restricted eating (TRE) gaining popularity for weight control.
• The safety and efficacy of TRE in elderly populations remain under investigation.
• Understanding the impact of fasting duration on mortality in older adults is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between fasting duration and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and other-cause mortality in US elderly individuals.
• To identify optimal fasting durations for reduced mortality risk in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of prospective cohort data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2005-2018).
• Inclusion of 10,561 participants aged over 60 with complete dietary and mortality data.
• Assessment of fasting duration via two 24-hour dietary recalls and analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Main Results:

• Individuals fasting over 12.38 hours showed significantly higher CVD mortality risk compared to those fasting 10.58-12.38 hours.
• This elevated risk was more pronounced in males, individuals over 70, and non-shift workers.
• A non-linear relationship was observed between fasting duration and all-cause and CVD mortality, with 11.49 hours associated with the lowest risk.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged fasting duration (over 12.38 hours) is linked to increased CVD mortality in the elderly.
• Shortest fasting durations were associated with elevated risks for cancer and other-cause mortality.
• Personalized clinical recommendations for fasting regimens in older adults are advised, with further RCTs needed to confirm TRE's impact on mortality.