Fasting for stress relief? small study in women cut short
NCT ID NCT05628727
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study compared two types of intermittent fasting (16:8 time-restricted eating and the 5:2 diet) to see if they could lower stress in women. Only 6 women with mild to high stress took part before the study was stopped early. Researchers measured stress through questionnaires and brain tests over 8 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
intermittent fasting (time-restricted feeding or 5:2 diet)
What this could lead to
If it worked, this could point toward a simple dietary approach to help women manage psychological stress.
What could go wrong
The trial was terminated early with only 6 participants, so results are very limited. It is unclear if fasting is safe or effective for stress in women.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada