Intermittent Fasting in Female Reproduction: A Double-Edged Sword

Abstract More than 30% of reproductive-age women are obese or overweight. Intermittent fasting (IF), including alternate-day fasting (ADF), time-restricted eating (TRE), and 5:2 fasting, has been shown to reduce obesity-related metabolic diseases and is gaining popularity among women. However, the impact of ADF and TRE on female reproductive health remains controversial, given that women’s reproductive physiology is particularly sensitive to environmental factors. In this summary we explored the effects of IF on female reproduction and on the basis of our findings we propose that TRE could be a feasible and acceptable lifestyle intervention for modifying eating behaviors before and potentially during pregnancy, and we also outline the potential mechanisms involved.