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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
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Paper ID:
IJSREM66250
Volume:
10 |
7 |
Jul 2026
Pages:
1-18
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Development Alternative
Department of Pharmacy
University of Development Alternative
Department of Pharmacy
Stamford University Bangladesh
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of Dhaka
Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology
University of Dhaka
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Department of Pharmacy
Stamford University Bangladesh
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Development Alternative
Intermittent fasting (IF) is an increasingly popular dietary approach involving cycles of eating and fasting that is recognized for its potential to improve metabolic health. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, caused ~43 million deaths in 2021, accounting for 75% of all non-pandemic-related deaths globally (World Health Organization [WHO]). According to the WHO, ~19.8 million people died from CVDs in 2022, while ~10 million died from cancer in 2020 worldwide. The WHO also reports that >2.5 billion adults are overweight, >1 billion are living with obesity, and >830 million have diabetes globally. In addition, ~545 million people were living with chronic respiratory diseases in 2017 (the Lancet). In Bangladesh, NCDs account for ~71% of all deaths, with nearly half occurring prematurely (WHO, 2026). This burden is driven by rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits, and increasing metabolic risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Evidence indicates that IF improves metabolic health through metabolic switching, enhanced insulin sensitivity, improved lipid metabolism, increased autophagy, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby lowering major NCDs risk factors, including obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. As a low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention with strong cultural acceptability, IF represents a feasible and evidence-based strategy for NCDs prevention. Integrating IF into Public health policy and practice may contribute to reducing Bangladesh's growing NCDs burden and improving population health.
KEYWORDS
Intermittent fasting is a promising, low-cost strategy for reducing NCDs risk, with evidence supporting improvements in insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and body weight. Its cultural acceptability and affordability make it particularly relevant for Bangladesh, where Ramadan fasting is widespread and the NCDs burden is increasing. However, IF is not superior to conventional CR, evidence for some long-term outcomes remains limited, and it may pose risks for vulnerable groups. Overall, IF should be viewed as a complementary component of comprehensive NCDs prevention rather than a standalone solution. Its successful implementation requires integration into primary healthcare, culturally appropriate national guidelines, balanced nutrition, individualized medical screening, and continued research to strengthen the evidence base.
· De Cabo, R., & Mattson, M. P. (2019). Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 381(26), 2541–2551. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1905136 · Mattson, M. P., Moehl, K., Ghena, N., Schmaedick, M., & Cheng, A. (2018). Intermittent metabolic switching, neuroplasticity and brain health. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19, 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.156 · Mattson, M. P. (2025). The cyclic metabolic switching theory of intermittent fasting. Nature Metabolism, 7, 665–678. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01254-5 · Visioli, F., Mucignat-Caretta, C., Anile, F., & Panaite, S.-A. (2022). Traditional and Medical Applications of Fasting. Nutrients, 14(3), 433. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030433 · Longo, V. D., & Mattson, M. P. (2014). Fasting: Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Cell Metabolism, 19(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2013.12.008 · Patterson, R. E., & Sears, D. D. (2017). Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting. Annual Review of Nutrition, 37, 371–393. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634 · Anton, S. D., Moehl, K., Donahoo, W. T., Marosi, K., Lee, S. A., Mainous, A. G., Leeuwenburgh, C., & Mattson, M. P. (2018). Flipping the Metabolic Switch: Understanding and Applying the Health Benefits of Fasting. Obesity (Silver Spring), 26(2), 254–268. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22065 · Gabel, K., & Varady, K. A. (2022). Current research: effect of time restricted eating on weight and cardiometabolic health. The Journal of physiology, 600(6), 1313–1326. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP280542 · Derron, N., et al. (2025). Alternate-day fasting elicits larger changes in fat mass than time-restricted eating in adults without obesity - a randomized clinical trial. Clinical Nutrition. Available at: https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(25)00247-X/fulltext
Publication Date
7/20/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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