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Intermittent Fasting in Female Reproduction: A Double-Edged Sword

Yang, Xiaohan, Liu, Wenting, Zhuo, Yong, Luo, Ting, Wu, De, Hua, Lun·2026·Nutrition Reviews
DOI 10.1093/nutrit/nuaf107
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Abstract

More than 30% of reproductive-age women are obese or overweight. Intermittent fasting (IF), including alternate-day fasting (ADF), time-restricted eating (TRE), and 5:2 fasting, has been shown to reduce obesity-related metabolic diseases and is gaining popularity among women. However, the impact of ADF and TRE on female reproductive health remains controversial, given that women’s reproductive physiology is particularly sensitive to environmental factors. In this summary we explored the effects of IF on female reproduction and on the basis of our findings we propose that TRE could be a feasible and acceptable lifestyle intervention for modifying eating behaviors before and potentially during pregnancy, and we also outline the potential mechanisms involved.

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Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Yang, X., Liu, W., Zhuo, Y., Luo, T., Wu, D., & Hua, L.
Affiliations
  • Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University , Chengdu 611130, PR
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University , Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047,
  • China State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047,
ORCID
Venue
Nutrition Reviews
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2025-06-30
Volume
84
Issue
6
Pages
1216-1226
ISSN
  • 0029-6643
  • 1753-4887
DOI
10.1093/nutrit/nuaf107
Cited by
1
References
11
Language
en
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (32472948, 32202719)
  • Yaan Science and Technology Program (23CGZH0003)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province of China (2024NSFSC1168)

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