Utah researchers confirm benefits for heart patients from intermittent fasting

Long-term and routine fasting helps improve the survival rates among patients that undergo cardiac catheterization, confirm the latest study by the Intermountain Healthcare researchers. This study, which was conducted upon 2001 participants at the Intermountain Healthcare Heart Institute, involved answering of lifestyle-related questions that were followed up for 5 years to keep tabs on the survival rate & any instances of series cardiac event or death, mentioned Dr. Benjamin Horne.

Horne is the principal investigator for the study, who is also the director for genetic and cardiovascular epidemiology at this very same institute. It was noted that the ones who opted for routine fasting had a much lower rate of death. Apart from that, the survival rates were very high. Plus, they experienced lower heart failure incidence. The study, therefore, confirmed that patients that indulge in routine fasting tend to experience greater survival rates.

He also mentioned that the institute for long had been keeping tabs on the effects of intermittent fasting done over the years. However, there was a need for the study to be performed with a larger and more controlled group. These results were listed on Saturday at the Philadelphia based American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions for 2019. The participants in the group that was considered routine fasters were noted to have been fasting for 2/3^rd of their total life which averages at 42 years at a minimum.

Horne also mentioned that these changes come through an extended time period and doesn’t serve as a quick fix. It isn’t some rapid form of weight loss based diet. Most of these patients had been fasting not for health reasons but for religious ones. This reason was pointed out for the patients that were members of various church groups that fast on every first Sunday per month while skipping two meals a day.

This group experienced a higher rate of survival as opposed to the non-fasters. They also lived one more year on average as opposed to the non-fasters. According to the study, Utah has one among the lowest mortality rates from cardiac arrest in the U.S., which has been a consistent result for decades. Fasting has been linked with better biological health. Plus, most members of the church avoid smoking, which can also be another add-on factor for a better lifestyle. For an average person, the benefits generally start seeping in 12 hours post the fasting period.