Improving Metabolism with Intermittent Fasting
Official title: Beneficial reprogramming of lipid metabolism with intermittent fasting
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11124720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how intermittent fasting might change your body's fat processing to improve heart and metabolic health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $666,071 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133578-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals interested in understanding how intermittent fasting affects their metabolism and overall health, potentially including those who are overweight or at risk for cardiometabolic issues, would be ideal.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment for acute conditions or those unable to safely participate in dietary interventions may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Calorie restriction has shown promise in improving health and possibly extending life in animals. This project explores if similar benefits can be achieved in people through intermittent fasting, which is often easier to stick with than daily calorie restriction. We want to understand if these benefits come from weight loss or if fasting itself changes how your body uses energy. We are also looking at how fasting affects bone health, as some diets can have negative effects. By studying how your body responds to different fasting patterns, we hope to find new ways to improve your heart and metabolic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new dietary recommendations or even medications that improve heart and metabolic health by mimicking the benefits of fasting.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies on intermittent fasting have shown metabolic benefits, and caloric restriction has a long history of demonstrated health improvements in various models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fazeli, Pouneh Khadejeh — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Fazeli, Pouneh Khadejeh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.