Department of Women's Health, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
Curr Nutr Rep. 2024 Dec;13(4):786-799. doi: 10.1007/s13668-024-00569-1. Epub 2024 Sep 25.
Intermittent fasting has gained significant attention, yet a comprehensive understanding of its impact on female reproductive health is lacking. This review aims to fill this gap by examining various intermittent fasting regimens and their effects on female reproductive function, along with potential mechanisms.
In healthy non-overweight/obese or pregnant animal models, alternate-day fasting (ADF) and an 8-h time-restricted feeding (TRF) window may have adverse effects on reproductive function. However, these regimens show potential to mitigate negative consequences induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) or environmental exposure. A 10-h TRF demonstrates benefits in improving fertility in both normal-weight and HFD-fed animal models. In women with overweight/obesity or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the 5:2 diet and TRF significantly reduce the free androgen index while elevating sex hormone binding globulin, promising improvements in menstrual regulation. For pregnant Muslim women, available data do not strongly indicate adverse effects of Ramadan fasting on preterm delivery, but potential downsides to maternal weight gain, neonatal birthweight, and long-term offspring health need consideration. Factors linking intermittent fasting to female reproductive health include the circadian clock, gut microbiota, metabolic regulators, and modifiable lifestyles. Drawing definitive conclusions remains challenging in this evolving area. Nonetheless, our findings underscore the potential utility of intermittent fasting regimens as a therapeutic approach for addressing menstruation irregularities and infertility in women with obesity and PCOS. On the other hand, pregnant women should remain cognizant of potential risks associated with intermittent fasting practices.
间歇性禁食引起了广泛关注，但人们对其对女性生殖健康的影响仍缺乏全面了解。本综述旨在通过研究各种间歇性禁食方案及其对女性生殖功能的影响，以及潜在的机制，填补这一空白。
在健康的非超重/肥胖或妊娠动物模型中，隔日禁食（ADF）和 8 小时限时进食（TRF）窗口可能对生殖功能有不良影响。然而，这些方案显示出减轻高脂肪饮食（HFD）或环境暴露引起的负面后果的潜力。10 小时 TRF 显示出改善正常体重和 HFD 喂养动物模型生育能力的益处。对于超重/肥胖或多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）的女性，5:2 饮食和 TRF 显著降低游离雄激素指数，同时升高性激素结合球蛋白，有望改善月经调节。对于穆斯林孕妇，现有数据并未强烈表明斋月禁食对早产有不良影响，但需要考虑对母亲体重增加、新生儿出生体重和长期后代健康的潜在负面影响。将间歇性禁食与女性生殖健康联系起来的因素包括生物钟、肠道微生物群、代谢调节剂和可改变的生活方式。在这个不断发展的领域，得出明确的结论仍然具有挑战性。尽管如此，我们的研究结果强调了间歇性禁食方案作为治疗肥胖和 PCOS 女性月经不调和不孕的一种潜在治疗方法的潜力。另一方面，孕妇应意识到间歇性禁食实践相关的潜在风险。
