Periodic fasting is associated with lower levels of inflammation in the body, which may occur because eating less frequently reduces exposure to food-derived antigens and activates cellular cleanup and anti-inflammatory processes.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (2)
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Intermittent Fasting and Reduction of Inflammatory Response in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis
This study found that a person with a gut inflammation disease felt better and had less inflammation in their blood after eating only during a limited window each day. This supports the idea that skipping meals on purpose can help calm down body inflammation.
This study found that people who fasted from sunrise to sunset for a month had less inflammation in their bodies, even after they started eating again. This supports the idea that fasting can help calm down the body’s inflammatory response.
Contradicting (1)
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This study found that fasting during Ramadan didn't lower inflammation markers in people with bowel disease — and even made their symptoms worse in some cases. So it doesn't support the idea that fasting reduces inflammation.
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.