IF is regarded by some as a popular diet,
32 and has been part of religious and cultural practices for thousands of years. Although the popularity of TRF is growing, the body of research on this topic is still quite small. The literature that exists on the topic of fasting largely investigates cellular models or socially uncommon fasting regimens. TRF, among the most popular regimens in social concepts of IF, has been investigated by a limited number of studies. Additionally, because the research team limited the search to PubMed, it is possible that other applicable articles may have been listed in other databases.
The studies we reviewed confirmed some of the theorized benefits of TRF; however, they also revealed that these benefits may be only moderate in magnitude. Additionally, the dearth of widely generalizable evidence means that more studies must be conducted before physicians can be confident in understanding the risks and benefits of TRF. Future studies should investigate the effects on women, because most of the studies we reviewed results with men only. In addition, because pilot studies have turned out to be successful and safe, future studies should include more participants and longer periods of TRF. It would be of significant interest to further understand the safety and long-term effects of TRF; tracking of adverse events warrants future study, with long-term follow-up to analyze whether and how benefits are maintained. The literature, although present, is indeed sparse, and thus TRF should be used by patients with caution and careful observation by physicians. The extent of health benefits provided by TRF still needs to be fully explored. With these limitations in mind, it is important to note that TRF is seemingly safe in most adult populations and, as such, should not bediscouraged.