Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41501473›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of clinical nutrition2026

The impact of intermittent fasting during weight reduction in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized clinical trial.

Salma M Abdel Fattah, Maggie M Abbassi, Samah Abd Elshafy, Mona A Hegazy, Samar F Farid

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Salma M Abdel FattahDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. salma.abdelmageed@pharma.cu.edu.eg.ORCID 0009-0002-4257-3272
Maggie M AbbassiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID 0000-0002-5956-8990
Samah Abd ElshafyDiabetes and Endocrinology Nutrition Clinic, Cairo University Hospitals (Kasr Alainy), Cairo, Egypt.ORCID 0000-0002-2676-5234
Mona A HegazyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID 0009-0009-2030-0856
Samar F FaridDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID 0000-0002-6048-847X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIntermittent fasting (IF) has gained attention for weight management and metabolic health, but detailed trials comparing its efficacy to calorie restriction (CR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) are limited. Our aim was to compare the impact of CR diet with or without 12-hour overnight IF regimen on weight loss, glycemic control, and reduction of medication use in T2D.

methodsThis was a 3-month, single-center randomized clinical trial. Participants (N = 99), 21-60 years with T2D, were randomly assigned to Group 1 (12-hour IF + CR, N = 48) or Group 2 (CR alone, N = 51). Anthropometric evaluations included weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and BMI. Body composition analysis was performed, and biochemical analysis included HbA1c, FBG, and fasting insulin levels to calculate the HOMA-IR. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

resultsBoth groups experienced significant weight loss after 12 weeks. The IF + CR group showed a more pronounced weight reduction (-6.51%) compared to the CR group (-4.41%) (P < 0.001) and significant improvements in HbA1c levels, with a reduction to 6.51% compared to 6.86% in the CR group (P = 0.035). The absolute reduction in HbA1c showed a significantly greater median decrease in the IF + CR group [-0.50 (IQR - 0.60 to -0.35)] compared with the CR group [-0.20 (IQR - 0.40 to -0.10)] (P = 0.002). IF + CR demonstrated significant reductions in waist circumference (-4.64%) and hip circumference (-3.12%) compared to the CR (-2.70% and -0.86%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IF + CR showed greater reductions in body fat mass (-9.39%) compared to the CR (-5.32%) (P < 0.001). Physical activity levels were comparable, with average MET of 100 and sedentary hours of 15.7 ( ± 3) for IF + CR and 16.2 ( ± 2.3) for CR, (P = 0.134).

conclusionsA 12-hour intermittent fasting (IF) regimen combined with calorie restriction (CR) demonstrated superior efficacy in promoting weight loss and improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to CR alone. Integrating IF into clinical nutrition guidelines could offer a practical and effective approach to diabetes management. CLINICAL

trial registrationThe study was registered at the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR202411524439559).

Indexed as

Caloric RestrictionDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2FastingIntermittent FastingWeight LossAdultBlood GlucoseBody CompositionBody Mass IndexFemaleGlycated HemoglobinGlycemic ControlHumansInsulinMaleMiddle AgedBlood GlucoseGlycated HemoglobinInsulin

Identifiers

PMID41501473
PMCPMC13008765

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.