Weight loss during intermittent fasting, not Mediterranean diet quality alone, is associated with lower inflammation: A randomized controlled trial.

Weight loss during intermittent fasting, not Mediterranean diet quality alone, is linked to reductions in inflammation in adults with metabolic risk factors.

• Why it matters: Understanding whether diet quality or weight loss drives anti-inflammatory effects is crucial for developing effective dietary interventions for metabolic health.
• What they did: A 16-week randomized controlled-feeding trial with 53 adults compared Mediterranean and western diets, adding twice-weekly fasting in the second phase, measuring high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and other metabolic markers.
• The result: C-reactive protein decreased during fasting in the Mediterranean group, associated with greater weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, indicating weight loss during fasting is a key factor in lowering inflammation.