Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most prevalent and preventable chronic conditions worldwide. Nutrition plays an important role in reducing several risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Intermittent fasting has been rapidly gaining interest among patients with cardiometabolic disease as a nutritional strategy for improving cardiovascular outcomes. However, research had yet to determine whether intermittent fasting provides greater cardiometabolic benefits compared to continuous daily caloric restriction. A recent Cochrane review has synthesised the benefits of intermittent fasting for the prevention of cardiovascular disease but is limited by its interpretation of the findings for clinical practice. This commentary aims to critically appraise the methods used within the review by Allaf et al, 2021 and expand upon the findings to determine its implications for clinical practice.
Keywords: Blood pressure; Cardiovascular diseases; Diet; Epidemiology; Intermittent fasting; Systematic review.