Intermittent Fasting and Uric Acid in Menopause: What the Research Shows

Intermittent Fasting and Uric Acid in Menopause: What the Research Shows

A 2026 study followed 43 postmenopausal women with high blood pressure for six months. They tried one of three diets: strict keto, intermittent fasting, or their usual eating. Only the keto group saw a real drop in uric acid, a blood marker linked to heart risk. Intermittent fasting alone did not lower it.

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 keto, intermittent fasting, or normal eating changes uric acid, a blood marker linked to heart disease risk, in postmenopausal women.
• Who did it: Barbara Pala and team at IDI-IRCCS hospital in Rome, Italy, published in Nutrients in 2026.
• How many people: 43 women, all past menopause, all with high blood pressure and extra weight. Exact age range: not stated in the abstract.
• How long: 6 months.
• What happened: the keto group had a real drop in uric acid; the fasting group did not change in a meaningful way.
• Read the study yourself: Nutrients 2026 →

What They Wanted to Find Out

Uric acid is a waste product that shows up in a blood test. High levels are tied to a higher risk of heart problems, even below the usual "high" cutoff. Doctors wanted to know which eating plan brings uric acid down best in women past menopause.

They compared three plans over six months: a strict low-carb, high-fat diet, intermittent fasting, and normal eating with standard advice. This matters for anyone reading about intermittent fasting and menopause fitness or wondering if fasting changes women's hormones. Uric acid and heart risk are a different question from weight or hot flashes, and this study looked at that piece specifically.

Who Was in the Study

Who they were: All 43 women were past menopause. All had high blood pressure and extra weight. Their exact age range is not stated in the abstract.

What the fasting actually looked like: The abstract does not say which hours or days the fasting group followed. It only names "intermittent fasting" as one of the three plans tested over six months.

What Happened

Only the keto diet group had a real drop in uric acid — fasting and normal eating did not.

• More than half of all the women started out above a heart-risk cutoff for uric acid.
• The keto group's drop held up even after accounting for each woman's starting level.
• In the keto group, the share of women above the heart-risk cutoff fell from about half to about a fifth.
• About one in three keto women moved into a lower risk group by the end.
• Fasting and normal eating did not show this kind of change.

What Did Not Change

• Uric acid did not drop in a meaningful way in the fasting group.
• Uric acid did not drop in a meaningful way in the normal-eating group.
• Muscle mass was not measured in this study, so nothing can be said about it here.

What the Researchers Said

The researchers concluded that the keto diet worked better than fasting for lowering uric acid and heart risk in this group. They suggested it could be a useful eating plan for postmenopausal women with high blood pressure.

What This Means for You

• If you fast for heart health: this study found fasting alone did not lower uric acid the way keto did.
• If you are postmenopausal: every woman in this study was past menopause, so the results speak directly to that stage of life.
• If you have high blood pressure: all the women here also had it, so results may differ for women with normal blood pressure.
• Ask your doctor about testing: a simple blood test can show your uric acid level, especially if heart risk runs in your family.
• Think about the whole diet, not just fasting: keto has its own risks and is not right for everyone.
• For more on fasting in this life stage, see Intermittent Fasting Improved Fitness in Postmenopausal Women and Does Intermittent Fasting Help Menopause Night Sweats?.

What This Study Could Not Tell Us

• Only 43 women took part in total — a small number.
• The abstract does not say how many women were in each of the three groups.
• The exact age range of the women is not stated in the abstract.
• It is not stated whether women were placed into groups at random.
• It ran for six months, so it cannot say what happens after a year.
• The exact fasting hours or schedule are not stated in the abstract.
• Who paid for the study is not stated in the abstract.

The Study Details

Pala, B., Pennazzi, L., Piscione, M., Nardoianni, G., Miletti, G., De Mitri, S., et al. (2026). Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women. Nutrients. PMID: 42356298

Common Questions

Does intermittent fasting lower uric acid in menopause?

In this study, no. Fasting alone did not bring uric acid down in a meaningful way. Only the keto diet group showed a real drop over six months.

What is uric acid and why does it matter for heart health?

Uric acid is a waste product found in your blood. High levels are linked to a higher risk of heart problems. More than half the women in this study started out above the risk cutoff.

How many women were in this study?

There were 43 postmenopausal women in total. The abstract does not say how many were placed in each of the three diet groups.

Is keto better than fasting for heart health in menopause?

In this small study, keto did more for uric acid. The share of keto women above the heart-risk cutoff fell from about half to about a fifth. Fasting and normal eating did not show that change.

How long did the study last?

It ran for six months. It cannot tell us what would happen with fasting or keto over a year or longer.

More Research Like This

• Intermittent Fasting Improved Fitness in Postmenopausal Women
• Time-Restricted Eating Eased Menopause Symptoms More Than Exercise
• Combining Fasting With Interval Workouts Helped Women Over 50 Get Fitter, Trial Finds
• Does Intermittent Fasting Help Menopause Night Sweats?
• Short-Term Water-Only Fasting Raises Uric Acid While Improving Cholesterol and Weight
• Time-Restricted Eating Cuts Weight the Same in Both Menopause Stages
• Time-Restricted Eating Works the Same Before and After Menopause

Track every fast automatically — get FastSyncer free on the App Store.