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Updated: May 28, 2025

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
Fasting-mimicking diet in type 2 diabetes reduces myocardial triglyceride content: A 12-month randomised controlled
Paul R Roos1, Elske L van den Burg2, Marjolein P Schoonakker2
1Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the Netherlands.
Background And Aims:
Type 2 diabetes is associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular complications, including myocardial steatosis. Fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) may mimic the metabolic benefits of fasting, while being less intensive than fasting. This study aims to investigate the effect of following an FMD program on myocardial triglyceride content (MTGC), as assessed by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods And Results:
100 patients with type 2 diabetes, who used metformin as the only glucose-lowering drug or no medication were randomly assigned to either an FMD group or a control group. The FMD group received the FMD program for 5 consecutive days a month alongside usual care, while the control group received usual care only. Both groups underwent baseline, 6-months and 12-months examinations, including single voxel cardiac 1H-MRS to assess MTGC. N = 13 participants of the FMD and n = 13 of the control group had complete data at baseline and twelve month follow-up. The FMD group exhibited a significant reduction in MTGC over the twelve month period (-0.235 % MTGC, p = 0.027), while the control group saw no significant change (0.143 % MTGC, p = 0.236). The decrease of MTGC in the FMD group was statistically different (p = 0.018) from control.
Conclusion:
Following an FMD program reduces MTGC, which indicates a favorable effect on cardiac metabolism and thereby may be an effective strategy to reduce the cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Clinical Trials Registration Number:
NCT03811587.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03811587, submitted January 13th, 2019.
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