Christian Orthodox Fasting Raised a Fat-Regulating Hormone in Women: What the Research Shows

Christian Orthodox Fasting Raised a Fat-Regulating Hormone in Women: What the Research Shows

A 2022 study followed 97 women before menopause in Greece for 12 weeks. One group followed traditional Orthodox Christian fasting — avoiding meat, dairy, and eggs on set days. The other group used time-restricted eating. The Orthodox fasting group saw a rise in a fat-regulating hormone called adiponectin, and their body fat dropped by about 3 percentage points.

Medical disclaimer: This article summarises published research for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified health professional. Always consult your doctor before starting any fasting protocol, especially if you have an existing health condition or take medication.

The Short Version

• What they tested: Whether Orthodox Christian fasting rules changed a fat-related hormone more than time-restricted eating did.
• Who did it: Spyridon N. Karras and colleagues at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition in 2022.
• How many people: 97 people, all women, average age about 48 years.
• How long: 12 weeks total — 7 weeks of fasting rules, then 5 more weeks of normal eating.
• What happened: The fasting group's fat hormone (adiponectin) rose, and their body fat fell by about 3 percentage points.
• Read the study yourself: Int J Food Sci Nutr 2022 →

What They Wanted to Find Out

Adiponectin is a hormone made by fat cells. Higher levels usually mean a body handles fat and sugar better. Researchers wanted to know if a traditional religious fasting pattern could raise this hormone in women.

They compared it against time-restricted eating, where you only eat during set hours each day. Both are forms of fasting already used by many women — you can read more about how time-restricted eating affects women's hormones and how fasting patterns behave around menopause. This study asked whether an older, food-based fasting style works just as well, or better.

Who Was in the Study

Who they were: All 97 people were women, before menopause, with an average age of about 48 years. All were carrying extra weight going into the study.

What the fasting actually looked like: The Orthodox fasting group avoided meat, dairy, eggs, and fish on set days, following the church calendar. The comparison group kept eating the same foods but only during a limited window each day. Both groups were followed for 7 weeks, then checked again 5 weeks after they went back to normal eating.

What Happened

The Orthodox fasting group's fat hormone went up, and their body fat went down, by the end of the study.

• The Orthodox fasting group's body fat dropped from about 35% to about 32% between the start and week 12.
• That same drop in body fat also showed up just between week 7 and week 12.
• In the fasting group, a higher fat hormone level lined up with a smaller waist size across the whole study.
• The researchers say this points to a real link between the fasting pattern and the hormone change.

What Did Not Change

• Muscle loss was not reported as a finding in this abstract.
• Results for the comparison group's fat hormone levels were not given in the abstract.

What the Researchers Said

The team concluded that Orthodox Christian fasting has good effects on the body through its impact on this fat hormone. They said this gives new evidence for how the fasting pattern works on a hormone level.

What This Means for You

• A food-based fasting style can matter, not just timing. This study suggests what you eat during fasting days, not just when you eat, may affect your hormones.
• This is one of the few studies done only on women. Every single person in this trial was a woman before menopause, so the results speak directly to that group.
• Body fat dropped without the study reporting muscle loss. That is good news if you worry about losing strength while trying to lose fat — see more on fasting and muscle in women.
• The hormone changes took time. The biggest change showed up by week 12, not right after the 7-week fasting period ended.
• If you already fast around your cycle or hormones, this adds context. You can compare it with other work on fasting and women's hormone levels.
• This was not a weight-loss study first. It focused on a hormone linked to fat and health, not on the number on the scale.

What This Study Could Not Tell Us

• It included 97 people. That is a modest number for strong conclusions.
• All were women in Greece, so results may not apply to every population or culture.
• It ran for 12 weeks. It cannot say what happens after a year or more.
• The comparison group's hormone results were not given in the abstract, making a full comparison hard.
• Funding for the study was not stated in the abstract.

The Study Details

Karras, S. N., Koufakis, T., Adamidou, L., Dimakopoulos, G., Karalazou, P., Thisiadou, K., et al. (2022). Implementation of Christian Orthodox fasting improves plasma adiponectin concentrations compared with time-restricted eating in overweight premenopausal women. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. PMID: 34148496

Common Questions

What is Christian Orthodox fasting?

It is a traditional fasting pattern that avoids meat, dairy, eggs, and sometimes fish on set days. It follows the church calendar rather than a daily clock.

Does Orthodox fasting work better than time-restricted eating for women?

In this study, the Orthodox fasting group showed a rise in their fat hormone by week 12. The abstract did not give the same number for the comparison group.

What is adiponectin and why does it matter?

It is a hormone made by fat cells that helps the body manage fat and blood sugar. Higher levels are usually linked to better health.

How long did the study last?

It ran for 12 weeks in total. That included 7 weeks of fasting rules and 5 more weeks after people went back to normal eating.

Is Orthodox fasting safe for premenopausal women?

This study followed 55 women through it without reporting safety problems in the abstract. It is still smart to check with your doctor before trying any new fasting pattern.

More Research Like This

• Does Time-Restricted Eating Change Women's Hormones? No
• Time-Restricted Eating Didn't Change Sex Hormones in Menopause
• Alternate Day Fasting Works Equally Well Before and After Menopause
• [Alternate Day Fasting Raises Adiponectin by 29% and Reduces Leptin in Normal-We