Diets
intermittent fasting decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure
In plain terms: Does intermittent fasting lower blood pressure?
Part of: 🥗 intermittent fasting
Yes modestly — pooled RCTs show roughly a 4-6 mmHg systolic reduction, but much of it parallels weight loss and effects on diastolic pressure are smaller and less consistent.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
The evidence (18)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guo 2025 · Int J Obes | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Systematic review of IF in overweight/obese adults reported inconsistent antihypertensive effects across protocols and flagged safety/adherence caveats. |
| Almalki ZS et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | moderate | ITS analysis, n=15,289 T2DM+HTN: SBP fell -4.12 mmHg during Ramadan (p<.001) but rebounded to pre-Ramadan levels afterward (not sustained); DBP not reported |
| Huang 2025 · Nutr Hosp | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-analysis of 16 RCTs (5369 patients with type 2 diabetes) found IF significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure versus control. |
| Gichamo FG et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | supports | low | n=68 T2DM, pre/post Assumption Fast: SBP ↓9.19 mmHg, DBP ↓9.44 mmHg (p=0.001 both) |
| He 2026 · Front Nutr | meta-analysis | contradicts | moderate | Dose-response SR/MA in women with overweight/obesity found IF significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. |
| (IF SR/MA) 2025 · Sleep Med Rev | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | SR/MA of 18 RCTs found IF reduced diastolic (but not consistently systolic) blood pressure versus ad libitum eating. ⚠️ correction-on-file (Crossref) - kept, corrigendum not retraction |
| Kibret 2025 · Curr Nutr Rep | meta-analysis | supports | high | Network meta-analysis on IF for CVD risk found inconsistent, modest blood-pressure effects across fasting regimens. |
| Al-Jafar 2021 · J Am Heart Assoc | observational | supports | moderate | LORANS study plus meta-analysis found Ramadan fasting produced small, inconsistent within-person changes in systolic/diastolic BP. |
| Semnani-Azad 2025 2025 · BMJ | meta-analysis | mixed | high | Network meta-analysis of RCTs found IF improved several cardiometabolic outcomes but blood-pressure benefits were small and largely explained by weight loss versus continuous energy restriction. ⚠️ correction-on-file (Crossref) - kept, corrigendum not retraction |
| Başaran R et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | contradicts | moderate | 24h ABPM, n=69, oldest-old: SBP 132.5±16.1 vs 129.8±14.8 (fasting HIGHER, p=0.049); DBP 70.2±9.6 vs 68.0±8.7 (higher, p=0.008) |
| Sun 2025 · Sci Rep | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Network meta-analysis of 21 RCTs found intermittent fasting significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (MD -5.98 mmHg), ranking behind DASH among dietary patterns. |
| Abdollahpour N et al 2025 · study_type: observational | observational | supports | moderate | 5:2 IF (n=40) vs calorie restriction (n=42), 12wk cohort: SBP lower in IF vs CR (123.78±9.95 vs 127.62±12.16, p<0.05); MAP fell in both groups vs baseline; DBP not significantly different between groups |
| Gholampoor 2024 · Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | SR/MA of religious/faith-based fasting found reductions in blood pressure among cardiovascular risk factors. |
| Celik M et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | tested-null | low | 24h ABPM, n=231 (117 fasting/114 non-fasting): no significant difference in 24h or daytime SBP/DBP; nighttime BP lower in fasting (p=0.032) |
| Nofal HA et al 2025 · study_type: RCT | RCT | supports | low | RCT n=54 MetS patients, Islamic 2-day/wk fasting+lifestyle vs lifestyle-only: SBP p=0.042, DBP p<0.001, both better in IF group |
| Gomez-Perez 2025 · Eur J Prev Cardiol | RCT | tested-null | moderate | 24-hour ambulatory BP sub-analysis of an RCT found no significant BP advantage of time-restricted eating or alternate-day fasting over other hypocaloric diets. |
| Bin Abdulrahman KA et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | narrative review (2021-2024 lit): states Ramadan fasting associated with reductions in body weight, fat mass, and blood pressure in T2DM |
| Trepanowski JF, et al. (Varady) 2017 · JAMA Intern Med | RCT | tested-null | high | In a 1-year alternate-day-fasting RCT, blood pressure did not differ from daily calorie restriction or control, indicating any BP benefit is not specific to fasting. |
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