Fasting

Intervention5 papers13 findingsMeSH D005215

A human trial shows that 12-day fasting reduces liver volume, visceral fat and adipose monounsaturated fatty acids, with lower liver fat in participants with steatosis. One mouse study reports reduced retinal flavin during fasting.

Human trial2
Animals1
Cells1

Outcomes

Flavin

downin mice1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases flavin in mice.
Animalsfastingretina
Retbindin Dynamically Redistributes to Preserve Retinal Flavin-Dependent Homeostasis in Response to Riboflavin Availability and Circadian Demand · FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 21 Sep 2026

Flavin →

Inflammation

downin reviews1

1 study

Fasting decreases inflammation.
Review
Fasting and aging: Mechanistic insights into epigenomic and transcriptional regulation of healthspan · Mechanisms of ageing and development · 10 Sep 2026

Inflammation →

Lifespan

upin reviews1

1 study

Fasting extends lifespan.
Review
Fasting and aging: Mechanistic insights into epigenomic and transcriptional regulation of healthspan · Mechanisms of ageing and development · 10 Sep 2026

Healthspan

upin reviews1

1 study

Fasting improves healthspan.
Review
Fasting and aging: Mechanistic insights into epigenomic and transcriptional regulation of healthspan · Mechanisms of ageing and development · 10 Sep 2026

Monounsaturated fatty acids

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases monounsaturated fatty acids in humans.
Human trialadipose tissue12-day
Impact of long-term fasting on liver and abdominal adipose tissues monitored by quantitative chemical-shift encoded MRI · Frontiers in nutrition · 7 Sep 2026

Monounsaturated fatty acids →

Liver fat content

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases liver fat content in humans.
Human trialin those with liver steatosisliver12-day
Impact of long-term fasting on liver and abdominal adipose tissues monitored by quantitative chemical-shift encoded MRI · Frontiers in nutrition · 7 Sep 2026

Liver fat content →

Visceral fat

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases visceral fat in humans.
Human trialvisceral adipose tissue12-day
Impact of long-term fasting on liver and abdominal adipose tissues monitored by quantitative chemical-shift encoded MRI · Frontiers in nutrition · 7 Sep 2026

Liver volume

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases liver volume in humans (p < 0001).
Human trialliver12-day
Impact of long-term fasting on liver and abdominal adipose tissues monitored by quantitative chemical-shift encoded MRI · Frontiers in nutrition · 7 Sep 2026

Liver volume →

Gut microbial ACE index

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases gut microbial ACE index in humans.
Human trialin normal-weight group7 days
The impact of short-term intensive fasting on physical health and gut microbiota in obese individuals · Frontiers in nutrition · 28 Aug 2026

Gut microbial ACE index →

Grip strength

upin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting improves grip strength in humans.
Human trialfollowed by structured refeeding7 daysn = 28
The impact of short-term intensive fasting on physical health and gut microbiota in obese individuals · Frontiers in nutrition · 28 Aug 2026

All 13

BMI

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases BMI in humans.
Human trialfollowed by structured refeeding7 daysn = 28
The impact of short-term intensive fasting on physical health and gut microbiota in obese individuals · Frontiers in nutrition · 28 Aug 2026

Body weight

downin humans1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases body weight in humans.
Human trialfollowed by structured refeeding7 daysn = 28
The impact of short-term intensive fasting on physical health and gut microbiota in obese individuals · Frontiers in nutrition · 28 Aug 2026

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

downin mice1Very low certainty

1 study

Fasting decreases metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in mice.
AnimalsWestern diet
Phosphorylation of OTUB1 promotes autophagy initiation under starvation · Nature communications · 15 Aug 2026

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease →