Condition

Fasting clinical trials and research

• 14Clinical trials
• 37NIH research projects
• 13Countries

Newest Fasting clinical trials

All recruiting trials (14)

• Fasting for 84 Hours: How It Affects Fat Burning and Muscle Basics in Young Adults

  This study tests whether 84 hours of fasting changes peak fat oxidation, how efficiently mitochondria couple their energy, and the extracellular matrix in four groups of young people who are normal weight or obese.

  Recruiting University of Copenhagen · Copenhagen · NCT07692646

• Combining 10-day Fasting with Fibre to Boost Gut Health

  This study tests whether adding dietary fibre to a 10-day fast improves gut microbiome function and metabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity.

  Recruiting Buchinger Wilhelmi Development & Holding GmbH · Überlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg · NCT07691736

• Orforglipron for Type 2 Diabetes in Ramadan Fasters

  This study tests whether orforglipron helps people with type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan, to see if it improves blood sugar control safely.

  Recruiting at 33 sites Phase 3 Eli Lilly and Company · Agra and 39 other locations · NCT07613307

• Understanding how different meals affect metabolism

  This study tests how different types of meals affect metabolism in young adults to see how their bodies respond to various nutrients.

  Recruiting Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica · Mexico City · NCT06878781

• Effects of one week of fasting on metabolism and immunity in humans

  This study is testing how a week of fasting with water affects metabolism and immune function in people to see if it can improve their overall health.

  Recruiting Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing · Beijing · NCT06779201

• Fasting versus continuing tube feeding before procedures for critically ill patients

  This trial will test whether stopping tube feeding before a procedure or continuing it affects recovery for adults in the ICU on mechanical ventilation.

  Recruiting at 13 sites Massachusetts General Hospital · Palo Alto, California and 18 other locations · NCT06751043

• Effects of a 48-hour fast with or without exercise on immune function and blood sugar control

  This study is testing how a 48-hour fast, with and without exercise, affects the immune system and blood sugar levels in healthy, active adults.

  Recruiting University of British Columbia · Kelowna, British Columbia · NCT06737224

• Intermittent fasting around chemotherapy for lymphoma

  This study tests whether fasting 24 hours before and after chemotherapy is safe and doable for adults with certain lymphomas.

  Recruiting University of Oslo · Oslo, Oslo · NCT06645093

• Continuing oral intake versus fasting for adults with acute respiratory failure

  This trial tests if letting adults in the ICU with acute respiratory failure continue oral intake is as safe as keeping them fasting.

  Recruiting at 13 sites University Hospital, Tours · Blois and 13 other locations · NCT06510972

• Investigating how fasting affects energy expenditure in the body

  This study is testing how different fasting periods affect energy use in the body and how it relates to thyroid hormones in people who respond differently to fasting.

  Recruiting ETH Zurich · Basel · NCT06134258

• Impact of eating before WALANT procedures on patient anxiety and outcomes

  This study tests if eating a light meal before certain surgeries can help reduce anxiety and improve satisfaction for patients.

  Recruiting University of California, Irvine · Orange, California · NCT05819801

• Assessing gastric volume and emptying in pediatric surgery patients

  This study tests if using ultrasound to measure stomach size and how quickly it empties is reliable for kids having surgery, compared to a standard test, to help keep them safe during anesthesia.

  Recruiting Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT05674643

• Effects of fasting on the immune system in healthy adults

  This study is testing how a 36-hour water-only fast affects the immune system in healthy adults aged 20-40 to see if it can improve immune responses.

  Recruiting University of California, Davis · Sacramento, California · NCT05104502

• Comparing how different amounts of clear fluids affect stomach contents in children before surgery

  This study is testing how different amounts of clear fluids before surgery can affect the stomach contents of children aged 13 to 17 to find the best way to keep them hydrated and safe.

  Recruiting Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT03741777

NIH-funded research (37)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Intermittent fasting and blood sugar in adults with diabetes

  A study will look at how two forms of intermittent fasting might improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

  NIH research University of Kansas Medical Center · Kansas City, United States · NIH-11593114

• Fatty acid signals that control protein production during fasting and aging

  This grant explores how fasting changes the way cells produce proteins to slow aging and improve insulin sensitivity, with a focus on type 2 diabetes risk.

  NIH research State University New York Stony Brook · Stony Brook, United States · NIH-11539325

• Intermittent fasting with PD-1 inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer

  This grant tests whether a fasting-mimicking diet can boost the effectiveness of PD-1 inhibitors for people with non-small cell lung cancer.

  NIH research Rlr VA Medical Center · Indianapolis, United States · NIH-11456786

• Fasting-mimicking diet and cancer stem cells in Wilms tumor

  Aiming to see if a fasting-mimicking diet can boost cancer-killing treatment while protecting healthy cells in children with Wilms tumor.

  NIH research Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11434150

• Intermittent Fasting to Boost Fracture Healing in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

  A study tests whether intermittent fasting can improve bone healing in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes by changing the gut microbiome.

  NIH research University of Colorado Denver · Aurora, UNITED STATES · NIH-11434069

• Intermittent fasting and nutrition counseling to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes

  A large 12-month program will compare time-restricted eating, intermittent energy restriction, and standard nutrition education to see which approach best improves blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

  NIH research University of Kansas Medical Center · Kansas City, United States · NIH-11427314

• Preserving muscle power by keeping mitochondria healthy during extreme fasting

  This NIH grant explores how a bear’s ability to resist muscle loss during long fasting could help people who are bedridden or recovering from critical illness keep their muscles stronger.

  NIH research University of Alaska Fairbanks · Fairbanks, United States · NIH-11425227

• Epigenetic control of heart energy by noncoding RNAs in ketosis and fasting

  A study in heart failure models to understand how long noncoding RNAs affect heart cell energy when people follow ketosis or intermittent fasting.

  NIH research Nova Southeastern University · Fort Lauderdale-Davie, UNITED STATES · NIH-11401726

• Understanding how fasting glucose is controlled in people with and without prediabetes

  This NIH grant studies how insulin and glucagon work together to control fasting glucose in people with and without prediabetes.

  NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11384413

• Understanding how fasting and calorie limits affect aging and Alzheimer’s risk

  A scientist at a leading university is studying how fasting and reduced calories influence aging processes and the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice, with the goal of finding safer ways to protect brain health in aging people.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11378175

• Improving culturally safe care for fasting Muslims with diabetes during Ramadan

  A study to help doctors and dietitians better support adults with Type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan, so they stay healthier.

  NIH research University of Idaho · Moscow, United States · NIH-11373001

• Impact of fasting on intestinal stem cells and cancer (policy: patient-facing)

  This grant explores how fasting and refeeding affect gut stem cells and colorectal cancer risk in mouse and organoid models, with potential implications for people concerned about gut health and cancer risk.

  NIH research Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, United States · NIH-11367109

• Beneficial reprogramming of fat metabolism with intermittent fasting

  A research team at a major university is testing whether intermittent fasting can improve heart and metabolic health in people, beyond just weight loss.

  NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11365867

• Lysosome signals in intestinal stem cells and cancer

  A scientist team will study how lysosomes and fasting affect intestinal stem cells and the development of cancer, using the mouse intestine as a model.

  NIH research Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, United States · NIH-11359743

• Intermittent fasting diet to help prostate cancer and metabolic health

  A patient-facing plan tests a fasting-mimicking diet to help men with prostate cancer improve cancer control and metabolism.

  NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11357610

• How fasting may protect the gut from radiation damage

  Short-term fasting may protect the small intestine from high-dose radiation by supporting the gut’s stem cells and changing gut bacteria and their chemical signals.

  NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11322666

• Intermittent fasting with a fasting-mimicking diet to help prostate cancer control and metabolic health

  This tests whether short cycles of a low-calorie, plant-based fasting-mimicking diet can help men with prostate cancer keep cancer control and improve blood sugar, insulin, and body weight.

  NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11210875

• Mimicking fasting effects to treat heart muscle diseases

  This study is looking at how a natural sugar called trehalose might help treat heart muscle diseases by mimicking the benefits of fasting, which could protect your heart after events like heart attacks.

  NIH research Indiana University Indianapolis · Indianapolis, United States · NIH-11190523

• Understanding how glucose transport affects liver metabolism and fat storage

  This study is looking at how a certain protein in the liver, called GLUT8, affects fat buildup in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it hopes to find new ways to help these patients burn fat better and improve their liver health.

  NIH research Indiana University Indianapolis · Indianapolis, United States · NIH-11178839

• Longer overnight fasting and exercise to reduce fatigue in women with hormone receptor–positive advanced breast cancer

  This project will see if longer overnight fasting and regular exercise help women with hormone receptor–positive advanced breast cancer feel less fatigued and improve their quality of life.

  NIH research University of Miami School of Medicine · Coral Gables, United States · NIH-11176126

• Fasting and its effects on gut stem cells and cancer

  This project explores how fasting affects special cells in the gut, called stem cells, and how this might relate to cancer.

  NIH research Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, United States · NIH-11166438

• Intermittent Fasting with a Special Diet for Prostate Cancer and Metabolism

  This work explores if a special diet that mimics fasting can help men with prostate cancer manage their disease and improve their overall health, especially when undergoing hormone therapy.

  NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11144437

• Better care for Muslims with diabetes who fast during Ramadan

  This project aims to understand and improve how dietitians support Muslim individuals with Type 2 diabetes who choose to fast during Ramadan.

  NIH research University of Idaho · Moscow, United States · NIH-11141789

• Improving Metabolism with Intermittent Fasting

  This project looks at how intermittent fasting might change your body's fat processing to improve heart and metabolic health.

  NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11124720

• Fasting blood sugar control in people with and without prediabetes

  This project looks at how the hormones insulin and glucagon affect fasting blood sugar in adults with and without prediabetes.

  NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11100011

• How fasting can protect the intestines from radiation damage

  This study is looking at how short-term fasting might help protect the cells in your intestines from damage caused by high radiation levels, and it’s especially for people who may be exposed to radiation, like cancer patients.

  NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11075274

• How intermittent fasting affects blood sugar control in diabetes patients

  This study is looking at how two types of intermittent fasting—eating less on some days and only eating during certain hours—can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar better and feel healthier.

  NIH research University of Kansas Medical Center · Kansas City, United States · NIH-11044228

• Intermittent fasting may improve salivary gland function in Sjögren’s syndrome

  This study is looking at how intermittent fasting might help improve the function of salivary glands in people with Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that causes dry mouth, by encouraging the growth of healthy cells and protecting against damage.

  NIH research Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · Cambridge, United States · NIH-11032004

• Investigating the role of G6PC2 in regulating blood sugar levels

  This study is looking at a special enzyme called G6PC2 to see how it helps control blood sugar levels, which could help us find new ways to keep people healthy and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

  NIH research Vanderbilt University · Nashville, UNITED STATES · NIH-11014344

• How fasting affects intestinal stem cells and cancer development

  This study is looking at how fasting affects special cells in our intestines that can help with cancer development, and it aims to find new ways to improve cancer treatments by understanding how these cells work during fasting.

  NIH research Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, United States · NIH-10945493

• Improving healthcare for fasting Muslims with diabetes during Ramadan

  This study is looking to improve the healthcare experience for Muslims with Type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan by understanding their unique challenges and needs, while also checking how well dietitians know how to support them during this time.

  NIH research University of Idaho · Moscow, United States · NIH-10936830

• Effects of fasting and exercise on fatigue in women with advanced breast cancer

  This study is looking at how skipping breakfast and exercising might help women with advanced breast cancer feel less tired and improve their quality of life, especially for those from diverse backgrounds facing unique challenges.

  NIH research University of Miami School of Medicine · Coral Gables, United States · NIH-10932148

• Using fasting metabolism to enhance survival in bacterial infections

  This study is looking at how not eating during a serious infection called sepsis might actually help patients recover better, by exploring how the body’s natural processes work when fasting and how they can improve survival, with the goal of finding new ways to treat sepsis without giving extra sugar.

  NIH research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · Dallas, United States · NIH-10906105

• How fasting affects aging and diabetes through cellular changes

  This study is looking at how fasting might help slow down aging and lower the chances of getting diseases like type 2 diabetes by changing how our cells work, and it could lead to new ways to improve health for people as they get older.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-10887330

• How intermittent fasting can improve lipid metabolism and health

  This study is looking at how taking breaks from eating, known as intermittent fasting, can help improve heart health and metabolism, especially for people who are overweight, without having to stick to a strict diet every day.

  NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-10830426

• Exploring prolonged daily fasting as an alternative to calorie restriction for weight loss in obese individuals

  This study is looking at how daily fasting, where you only eat during an 8-hour window, compares to regular calorie counting for helping people with obesity lose weight and improve their health over 12 weeks.

  NIH research University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-10551991

• The link between workaholism and metabolic health issues like diabetes.

  This study is looking at how being a workaholic might affect your blood sugar and overall health, especially for those who are healthy or at risk for diabetes, and it aims to find out how things like stress and sleep can play a role in this.

  NIH research East Carolina University · Greenville, United States · NIH-10351452

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Fasting clinical trials are recruiting right now?

14, as of November 12, 2026. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 13 countries. The most sites are in United States (5 trials), India (1 trial), Saudi Arabia (1 trial), South Africa (1 trial), United Arab Emirates (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 3: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

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