Intermittent fasting in adults aged 60 and over: systematic review with network meta-analysis of weight measures
In this abstract, 31 studies on intermittent fasting in adults aged 60 and over were reviewed; a network meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials found Islamic Sunnah fasting and 16:8 time-restricted eating most effective for weight and BMI reduction without lean mass loss. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review included 31 studies of intermittent fasting in adults aged 60 and older, and 7 randomized controlled trials entered the network meta-analysis. [1]
In the network meta-analysis, Islamic Sunnah fasting and 16:8 time-restricted eating were most effective for weight and BMI reduction without lean mass loss. [1]
Very restrictive eating windows and prolonged fasting were associated with lower cognitive scores and 58% increased cardiovascular mortality. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials plus narrative synthesis (abstract).
- Population / context
- Adults aged 60 years and older.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- April 30, 2026
Fasting review in adults 60 and older
The authors systematically reviewed intermittent fasting in adults aged 60 years and older, following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines, with searches in PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect up to June 2025. Eligible were randomized controlled trials, clinical trials and observational studies. Thirty-one studies were included. The network meta-analysis compared time-restricted eating, the 5:2 method, Islamic Sunnah fasting, a Healthy Living Diet and usual diet.
Supporting source [1]
Weight and BMI results from 7 randomized trials
Only 7 randomized controlled trials entered the network meta-analysis; pre-post trials and observational studies contributed only to the narrative review. Islamic Sunnah fasting and 16:8 time-restricted eating were most effective for weight (minus 2.36 kg and minus 1.92 kg) and BMI reduction (minus 0.81 and minus 1.01 kg/m), without lean mass loss. Findings on cardiometabolic parameters, mental health and cognition come from the narrative synthesis of individual studies, not from pooled estimates.
Supporting source [1]
Cognitive and mortality signals in the narrative review
In the narrative synthesis, long-term structured intermittent fasting was associated with improvements in standardized cognitive performance measured with validated instruments. However, very restrictive eating windows of 10 hours or less and prolonged fasting of more than 12.38 hours were associated with adverse outcomes, including lower cognitive scores and a 58% increased cardiovascular mortality. These are associations, not proof of cause. The authors call for further long-term research to confirm optimal protocols and identify at-risk subgroups.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. Details of the individual studies, such as sample sizes, follow-up and how outcomes were measured, are not reported in the abstract. The cardiometabolic, mental health and cognitive findings come from a narrative synthesis, not pooled analysis, and the mortality and cognitive signals are associations.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Couto-Alfonso S, Cenit MC, Sanz-Pérez CM, Iguacel I. · europepmc.org · April 30, 2026