Evidence mapPaperPMID 40055608Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2025

The effects of intermittent fasting on anthropometric indices, glycemic profile, chemotherapy-related toxicity, and subjective perception in gynecological and breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Xiaoxia Liu, Qiucen Meng, Wenqi Fan, Lianzhen Ning, Lina Ge

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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.

Xiaoxia LiuDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Qiucen MengDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Wenqi FanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Lianzhen NingDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Lina GeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China. liuxx19970428@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMounting evidence supports the health benefits of intermittent fasting (IF) in general. This study evaluates its impact on patients with gynecological or breast cancer specifically.

methodsA thorough search for studies comparing IF with either nonintervention diets or calorie restriction (CR) in patients with either gynecological or breast cancer and published prior to October 5, 2024 was carried out on the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biomedical Literature databases (CBM). Extracted data included but not limited to body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, insulin levels, chemotherapy-related toxicity, and subjective perceptions.

resultsA total of 625 subjects were included across 7 randomized controlled trials, and 2 nonrandomized trials. Meta-analysis revealed that IF significantly reduced body weight (Effect Size [ES]: -0.611; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.886 to -0.356; p < 0.001; I² = 0%), blood glucose levels (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.347 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.533 to -0.140; p < 0.001), and insulin concentrations (SMD: -0.395 mU/L; 95% CI: -0.674 to -0.116; p = 0.005). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the overall effect sizes were stable. However, it remains uncertain whether IF increases chemotherapy-related adverse effects (relative risk [RR]: 1.038; 95% CI: 0.844 to 1.278; p = 0.723). Furthermore, three studies indicated that IF reduced fatigue and two studies indicated that IF improved quality of life.

conclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that IF has a beneficial effect on reducing body weight, blood glucose, and insulin concentrations in gynecological and breast cancer patients. IF may also reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. However, the effect on chemotherapy-related adverse effects is uncertain. Further high-quality studies with long-term follow-ups are needed to confirm these findings.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsBreast NeoplasmsFastingGenital Neoplasms, FemaleBlood GlucoseBody Mass IndexBody WeightCaloric RestrictionFemaleGlycemic IndexHumansInsulinIntermittent FastingAntineoplastic AgentsBlood GlucoseInsulinBreast cancerGynecological cancerIntermittent fastingShort-term fastingTime-restricted eating

Identifiers

PMID40055608
PMCPMC11887389

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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 Socratic graph.