O jejum intermitente em mulheres em idade fértil: impacto hormonal e implicações clínicas

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) on the female hormonal system in women of reproductive age, with emphasis on reproductive hormones and their implications for menstrual and reproductive health. METHODOLOGY: This study is a literature review based on articles published between 2009 and 2024, sourced from databases such as PubMed, Scielo, the National Library of Medicine, and ScienceDirect. Inclusion criteria were: studies involving women of reproductive age, without comorbidities, addressing hormonal parameters especially levels of estradiol, progesterone, LH, and FSH. RESULTS: Although few studies explore the negative effects of IF, some evidence suggests that it may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, resulting in menstrual irregularities such as anovulatory cycles and amenorrhea, which may impair fertility. Additionally, IF can increase serum cortisol, heightening stress and inhibiting GnRH secretion, which in turn reduces LH and FSH levels, thus affecting female reproductive function. On the other hand, IF may benefit women with insulin resistance-related conditions, such as PCOS, as it has been shown to help regulate glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that while IF may offer metabolic benefits in specific cases, it also poses significant hormonal risks for women of reproductive age. These findings highlight the importance of medical supervision and the need for individualized assessment before adopting this dietary practice.