Effects of 16:8 intermittent fasting on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in obese women

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Published Feb 15, 2026
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i12.5899
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Vol. 103 No. 12 (2025): Tunis Med Dec 2025

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Henda Jamoussi
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Nesrine Dhieb
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Inchirah Karmous
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Faten Mahjoub
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Arij Ben Chaabene
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Amel Gamoudi
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Awatef Kacem
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Moncef Feki
Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry "LR99ES11" , La Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Malika Ben Ahmed
Laboratory of immunology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Emna Talbi
Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, National Institute Zouhair Kallel of Nutrition and Food Technology, Tunis, Tunisia
Rym Ben Othman
Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2453-9778

Abstract

Background: The efficiency of intermittent fasting (IF) in promoting weight loss and improving metabolic parameters in obese individuals has been demonstrated. This study aims to evaluate the impact of intermittent fasting on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters compared to continuous caloric restriction (CCR), three months after intervention.


Methods: Over three months, we enrolled obese women practicing intermittent fasting (16/8) and compared them to a group following continuous caloric restriction. Anthropometric characteristics were measured using a bioelectrical impedance meter, and biological parameters, including inflammatory markers (hs-CRP and interleukin-6) and oxidative stress markers (8-hydroxyguanosine and 8-isoprostaglandin F2α), were evaluated before and after the intervention.


Results:The mean age and initial body mass index (BMI) were 35.5±9.13 years and 38.3±4.8 kg/m² in the IF group, and 36.3±9.27 years and 36.8±4.3 kg/m² in the CCR group, respectively. Weight loss was statistically significant in both groups. However, no effect was observed on inflammatory markers (hs-CRP and interleukin-6) in either group. Similarly, regarding oxidative stress markers, the changes in plasma concentrations of 8-OHdG (from 78.3±50.2 pg/ml to 85.7±39.3 pg/ml in the CCR group and from 81.7±26.8 pg/ml to 92.3±36.3 pg/ml in the IF group) and 8-iso-PGF2α (from 240±176 pg/ml to 194±146 pg/ml in the CCR group and from 194±153 pg/ml to 184±176 pg/ml in the IF group) were not statistically significant.


Conclusion: Despite its positive effects on weight and metabolic parameters, intermittent fasting has not demonstrated efficacy in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in obese women.

Keywords:

Obesity , Intermittent fasting, Low-calorie diet , Inflammation, Oxidative stress

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Henda Jamoussi, Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

university of tunis el manar faculty of medicine of tunis

Faten Mahjoub, Research Unit UR18ES01 on “Obesity”, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

university of tunis el manar faculty of medicine of tunis

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