44
points
New study: intermittent fasting doesn't extend lifespan in mice
A new large-scale study from Jackson Laboratory tested multiple IF protocols in genetically diverse mice. The surprise: caloric restriction extended lifespan but intermittent fasting (same total calories) did not. This challenges the idea that the timing of eating matters independently of total intake. Time to reassess our IF protocols?
Comments
Log in to join the discussion.
Important nuance: the IF group maintained the same total calories. In practice, most people who do IF also eat less. The weight loss from IF is what provides the benefit.
This is a huge study and we need to take it seriously. But mice aren't humans — the metabolic rate differences make direct translation tricky.
I'm going to keep doing 16:8 because it simplifies my life and I eat better when I have an eating window. Even if the fasting itself doesn't help, the behavioral aspects do.
This aligns with the Matt Kaeberlein take: CR works, IF is mostly a tool to achieve CR. The fasting window itself is less important than we thought.