NCT05628727

Intermittent Fasting Interventions on Brain Health in Women

Comparison of Intermittent Fasting Interventions on Brain Health in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (actual)
• Sponsor: McMaster University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Adults experience high psychological stress due to many factors such as school, workplace, or personal life. Adult women are known to experience higher stress levels than men. Current evidence shows that fasting improves mental health outcomes in men. The research is unclear on fasting interventions and their potential impact on stress levels in women. In this study, investigators will compare two fasting diets over 8 weeks. There will be a control group, one group that fasts for two days per week, and a final group that only eats for 8 hours in the morning. Mental health surveys, brain tests and a blood draw will be done during the study to see any mental or physical changes from the diets. Investigators will study the motivation of women to continue the diet during and beyond the study through online surveys.

Conditions

• Psychological Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Time Restricted Feeding	This group will use the 16:8 method every day, eating only during an 8-hour period that will commence at wake-up time.
OTHER	5:2 Fasting	This group will use the 5:2 method and fast for two non-consecutive days of the week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-02-09
• Primary completion: 2025-09-06
• Completion: 2025-09-06
• First posted: 2022-11-29
• Last updated: 2025-09-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada