Fasting during cancer treatment has not shown clear clinical benefit
A systematic review found fasting feasible in the studied patients, but did not demonstrate improved treatment outcomes or fewer chemotherapy-related toxicities.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review did not demonstrate that intermittent fasting improved cancer treatment outcomes or reduced chemotherapy-related toxicity. Although fasting appeared feasible and safe within the included studies, the authors judged the clinical evidence insufficient for a firm conclusion. Changes in blood markers do not fill that gap, and these findings do not establish benefits across cancer populations.
Most patients had breast cancer, limiting the review's relevance to other cancers. The abstract does not give fasting schedules, comparator details, effect estimates or follow-up lengths, and the authors call for larger randomized trials.
Clinical outcomes stayed uncertain
The review considered treatment effectiveness, side effects, quality of life and fasting tolerance. Its central clinical finding was the absence of a demonstrated benefit; that is different from proving fasting has no effect under any circumstances.
Blood changes are separate findings
Reported trends included lower insulin and IGF-1 levels and higher red blood cell levels. Some studies found no significant weight or BMI differences. These observations do not establish improved cancer treatment outcomes or reduced toxicity.
The original publication
Impact of intermittent fasting on patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies: a systematic review of the literature.
Maes J, Durieux V, Liebmann M et al.
Support Care Cancer · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40970988
- Record checked
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