Impact of Intermittent Fasting on Serum Cardiac Biomarkers in Male Wistar Rats

<i>Background</i>: Intermittent fasting (IF) is a widely adopted strategy for weight loss; however, it has also been linked to potential risks, including an increased likelihood of cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intermittent fasting on cardiac biomarkers in male Wistar rat models. <i>Methods</i>: Twenty (20) male Wistar rats (130 g) were used for the study. They were randomly assigned to four (4), consisting of five (5) rats per group. Group I served as the control while groups II, III, and IV served as the experimental groups and intermittently fasted for 6 hours, 8 hours, and 12 hours, respectively, for four (4) weeks. Blood samples were collected to determine cardiac serum biomarkers: troponin-I (cTnI), troponin-T (cTnT), and aspartate transaminase (AST). <i>Results</i>: There was a significant increase in cTnI, cTnT, and AST levels among the 12-hour intermittent fasting group (IV) compared to the control group (I), the 6-hour IF (II) and the 8-hour IF (III) groups (p<0.05). Similarly, mean levels of cTnI, cTnT, and AST were significantly elevated among the 8-hour IF group compared to the 6-hour IF group (p<0.05). Expectedly, there was a reduction in the body weight of the rats in all experimental groups compared to the control (p<0.01). <i>Conclusion</i>: Prolonged intermittent fasting could pose a risk to cardiac health, necessitating careful consideration and monitoring of the fasting regime.