The study found that DHEA, a hormone prescribed by fertility clinics to improve ovarian function and egg quality, was significantly lower in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women at the end of the study. About 14% less.
A new study shows that intermittent fasting can adversely affect reproductive hormones in women. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Daphne Clarence: One of the most effective ways to lose weight is intermittent fasting (IF) and is advised by many nutritionists. This form of lifestyle involves eating at a set time each day and then fasting for about 12 to 16 hours.
Many have witnessed its benefits, but new research shows that intermittent fasting can negatively affect reproductive hormones in women. I happened to come across new evidence of female IF.
A team led by Krista Varady, professor of nutrition at UIC, studied a group of premenopausal and postmenopausal obese women. Eight weeks on the “warrior diet” method of intermittent fasting. Their findings are published in the magazine Wiley Online Library.
The IF warrior diet restricts a person to eating only four hours a day. I made it.
Researchers measured differences in hormone levels by obtaining blood sample data from participants who followed IF and those who did not. Eight weeks later, they observed no change in levels of sex-binding globulin hormone, a protein that carries reproductive hormones throughout the body.
However, dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA, a hormone prescribed by fertility clinics to improve ovarian function and egg quality, was significantly lower in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women at the end of the study. % decreased.
“This suggests that modest reductions in DHEA levels should be weighed against the proven fertility benefits of being underweight in premenopausal women,” says Varady. “Because menopause already causes a dramatic drop in estrogen, and DHEA is a major building block of estrogen, declining DHEA levels in postmenopausal women may be of concern. , no negative side effects related to low estrogen post-menopause, such as sexual dysfunction and skin changes.
During the study, women on the IF “Warrior Diet” experienced a weight loss of 3% to 4% of their baseline body weight. Varady concluded that more research on intermittent fasting and other methods of fasting should be done. This is especially because negative information about reported IF comes from studies in mice and rats.
“I think this is a great first step. All you have to do is get people to eat less, and by shortening that eating window, you’re just naturally cutting calories. We need research,” she added.
