Intermittent fasting has been praised by many over the years as an effective tool in losing or maintaining weight, despite evidence suggesting its value is negligible at best.
While intermittent fasting might do little to help you achieve your weight goal, that does not mean it won’t provide you with other health benefits. And the latest research indicates it could help to limit the effects of COVID.
A new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) online concludes “that consistent fasting may limit COVID-19 severity”. It appears the energy deprivation triggers some temporary bodily changes and the mechanisms involved seem to include controlling hyperinflammation and strengthening some immunity pathways.
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The study looked at 205 patients diagnosed with COVID, and separated them into two groups – those who engaged in intermittent fasting, and those who did not. The study was conducted in Utah, where the relatively high population of Mormons in the state engage in intermittent fasting once a month for religious reasons by going without food or drink for two consecutive meals on the first Sunday of every month.
Analysing the two groups, the BMJ study’s authors found 11 per cent of fasters were admitted to hospital and/or died but this figure rose to 28.8 per cent in the cohort that did not fast. They concluded that “routine periodic fasting was associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation or mortality in patients with COVID-19”.
However, the authors also warned against the notion of intermittent fasting as some sort of magic cure, saying it is “not a panacea or a quick fix for health problems”.
Read: Eight things I learnt when I tried intermittent fasting
The health benefits (outside of weight loss) of intermittent fasting have been known for some time. A study published before the advent of COVID found that, “fasting reduced inflammation and improved chronic inflammatory diseases without affecting the immune system’s response to acute infections”.
It achieves this by reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cells called ‘monocytes’ into the bloodstream. Monocytes are highly inflammatory immune cells and, during periods of fasting, these cells go into ‘sleep mode’ and are less inflammatory than monocytes found in those who were fed.
This is likely to be one of the mechanisms involved in reducing the effects of COVID for those who contract it.
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It is important to note, though, that intermittent fasting is a complementary therapy and should not be seen in any way as a substitute for vaccination and other methods of COVID prevention. The best COVID outcome for you is still not contracting it in the first place.
Nevertheless, the study’s findings are positive and its authors have suggested further research. “Sustainable intermittent fasting regimens deserve further investigation for potential short-term and long-term preventive or therapeutic use as a complementary therapy to vaccines to reduce COVID-19 severity,” they concluded.
It was also suggested that investigations into the effect of fasting on long COVID-19 should be studied.
In the meantime, all the usual COVID prevention and treatment regimens should be maintained. And if you add intermittent fasting to your regimen, you might get some extra health benefits – although long-term weight loss is not likely to be one of them.
Have you tried intermittent fasting? What benefits has it brought you? Why not share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below?
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