A new study has revealed that intermittent fasting could play a role in protecting the heart and brain by lowering the risk of blood clots. The findings, published in the journal Life Metabolism, show that fasting is more than just a diet trend, it may soon be seen as a medical lifestyle therapy for people with heart disease.
The research team discovered that fasting boosts a natural compound in the body called indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), which is produced by gut bacteria. IPA was found to reduce platelet activation, the process that leads to dangerous blood clots. These clots are the main reason behind heart attacks and strokes, which remain the world’s top killers.
Scientists tested 160 patients who were already being treated for coronary artery disease. Half of them were placed on an intermittent fasting schedule, where they fasted every second day for ten days. The rest continued their normal eating routine. When blood samples were taken at the end of the trial, the fasting group showed much higher levels of IPA. Their platelets were also less sticky, meaning they were less likely to form clots.
At the same time, laboratory experiments with mice showed similar results. Mice that were made to fast had fewer blood clots and less damage to their heart and brain after simulated heart attacks and strokes. The researchers noticed that IPA worked in a way very similar to clopidogrel, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for preventing clots. Even more interesting, when IPA was combined with clopidogrel, the effect was stronger than either one alone.
Dr. Chen, who led the study, explained in simple words,“What we found is that intermittent fasting changes the gut in a way that protects the heart. It raises IPA levels, and this molecule works like medicine to stop clots from forming. This is an exciting discovery because it shows how food and fasting can directly help treat heart problems.”
Cardiovascular disease kills more than 20 million people every year across the globe. Most deaths are caused by arteries getting blocked by clots. For years, doctors have relied on antiplatelet drugs to reduce this risk. But even with these drugs, many patients still suffer heart attacks and strokes. That is why researchers are now looking at lifestyle changes that can work side by side with medicines.
Intermittent fasting is already popular as a weight-loss method, but past research has shown it can do much more. Studies have suggested it lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, improves blood sugar control, and even protects the brain against aging. This new research adds another piece to the puzzle by showing how fasting directly reduces clot risk through the gut microbiome.
The study also identified the gut bacterium Clostridium sporogenes as the main source of IPA. When fasting increased this bacterium, IPA levels rose in the blood, and clot risk went down. But when mice were given antibiotics, their IPA levels dropped, and platelet activation increased again.
Dr. Mei, one of the researchers, said during a press briefing, “We were surprised to see such a strong link between gut health and heart health. By increasing one type of bacteria, fasting gave the body a natural way to fight clots. It shows that the gut is more powerful than we thought.”
The mechanism was also clear. IPA attaches itself to a receptor on platelets called the pregnane X receptor (PXR). Once this happens, the pathways that usually activate platelets are blocked. This prevents the platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous clots.
The idea that skipping meals could reduce the chance of heart attacks might sound too simple, but experts say it could become part of medical treatment.
Professor Zhang, a cardiologist not connected to the study, told reporters, “Drugs will always be important, but adding a safe lifestyle therapy like intermittent fasting could give extra protection to millions of patients. What makes this study unique is that it shows the gut and the heart are directly connected.”
The researchers warn that more large-scale studies are needed before fasting can be recommended as a medical therapy. But they are hopeful. For now, doctors suggest that anyone interested in trying intermittent fasting should consult with their physician, especially if they are already taking heart medication.
This is a sign that health and food are deeply connected. If larger trials confirm these findings, intermittent fasting could one day be prescribed alongside medicine to reduce strokes and heart attacks. It may even lead to new probiotic therapies designed to boost Clostridium sporogenes in the gut, raising IPA levels without changing diet.
The study in Life Metabolism has given doctors and patients fresh hope. Dr. Chen said, “We are only beginning to understand how fasting and gut bacteria work together. But what we know now is clear, fasting does more than cut calories. It could help save lives.”
