Intermittent Fasting After ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Improves Left Ventricular Function: The Randomized Controlled INTERFAST-MI Trial

Circulation Heart Failure, vol. 17, pp. e010936

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intermittent fasting has shown positive effects on numerous cardiovascular risk factors. The INTERFAST-MI trial (Intermittent Fasting in Myocardial Infarction) has been designed to study the effects of intermittent fasting on cardiac function after STEM (ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction) and the feasibility of future multicenter trials. METHODS: The INTERFAST-MI study was a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded, single-center investigator-initiated trial. From October 1, 2020, to July 15, 2022, 48 patients were randomized to the study groups intermittent fasting or regular diet and followed for 6 months with follow-up visits at 4 weeks and 3 months. RESULTS: In all, 22 of 24 patients in the intermittent fasting group with a mean age of 58.54±12.29 years and 20 of 24 patients in the regular diet group with a mean age of 59.60±13.11 years were included in the intention-to-treat population. The primary efficacy end point (improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction after 4 weeks) was significantly greater in the intermittent fasting group compared with the control group (mean±SD, 6.636±7.122%. versus 1.450±4.828%; P =0.038). This effect was still significant and even more pronounced after 3 and 6 months. The patients in the intermittent fasting group showed a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure and body weight compared with the control group. The mean adherence of patients in the intermittent fasting group was a median of 83.7% (interquartile range, 69.0%–98.4%) of all days. None of the patients from either group reported dizziness, syncope, or collapse. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that intermittent fasting after myocardial infarction may be safe and could improve left ventricular function after STEMI. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.drks.de ; Unique identifier: DRKS00021784.

Authors 8

1. Jochen Dutzmann

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine III (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.)

2. Zoe Kefalianakis

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine III (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Zoe Kefalianakis Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.)

3. Florian Kahles Aachen Department of Internal Medicine I (Cardiology) Florian Kahles Department of Internal Medicine I

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, Germany (F.K.)

   Florian Kahles Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, Germany (F.K.)

4. Jan‐Marcus Daniel

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine III (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Jan-Marcus Daniel Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.)

5. Hubert Gufler

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology (H.G., W.W.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Hubert Gufler Department of Radiology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (H.G., W.W.)

6. Walter Alexander Wohlgemuth

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology (H.G., W.W.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Walter Alexander Wohlgemuth Department of Radiology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (H.G., W.W.)

7. Kai Knöpp

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine III (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.)

8. Daniel Sedding

   University Hospital in Halle

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine III (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.), University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany

   Daniel G. Sedding https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7312-5216 Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. (J.D., Z.K., J.-M.D., K.K., D.G.S.)