Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 27, 2026 44 minutes ago
Medical News: A new Korean study is giving hope to millions living with diabetes and prediabetes after researchers discovered that intermittent fasting could dramatically lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
New research suggests intermittent fasting may significantly lower the risk of diabetes-related vision damage
The research was conducted by scientists from Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Severance Eye Hospital, Inha University School of Medicine, Korea Food Research Institute, and Severance Cardiovascular Hospital in South Korea.
Diabetic retinopathy develops when prolonged high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Over time, this can lead to blurred vision, bleeding inside the eye, and even permanent blindness. Although blood sugar control and modern treatments have improved outcomes, diabetic retinopathy still affects millions globally.
Fasting Linked to Major Drop in Eye Disease Risk
The researchers analyzed health and nutrition data from 922 adults aged 40 and older who had diabetes or prediabetes. The data came from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2017 and 2018. Participants underwent detailed eye examinations, nutritional assessments, and interviews about their eating habits.
Out of the 922 participants, 91 practiced intermittent fasting while 831 followed regular eating patterns. The intermittent fasting group mainly included people who skipped breakfast or dinner regularly or fasted for over 24 hours at times.
The results were striking. Only 8.8 percent of those practicing intermittent fasting showed signs of diabetic retinopathy, compared to 20.6 percent in the regular diet group. Even after adjusting for age, obesity, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, smoking, insulin use, and calorie intake, intermittent fasting was still associated with about a 70 percent lower risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers also found that the protective effect remained consistent across different subgroups, including men and women, younger and older adults, and people with varying blood sugar levels and body weights.
Why Fasting May Protect the Eyes
Scientists believe intermittent fasting may protect the retina through several biological mechanisms.
One important factor may be ketone production. During fasting, the body burns stored fat for energy and produces compounds called ketones. These ketones are believed to reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function, both of which are important because diabetic retinopathy is driven by inflammation and blood vessel damage.
The study also highlighted the role of a protein known as SIRT1. Fasting appears to activate this protein, which helps regulate inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. Researchers suspect that activation of SIRT1 inside retinal tissues may help protect delicate eye structures from diabetes-related damage.
Another possible explanation involves gut
bacteria. Previous animal studies have shown that intermittent fasting can alter gut microbes in ways that reduce inflammation and improve retinal health. Certain beneficial compounds produced by gut bacteria may even help protect retinal nerve cells from degeneration.
This
Medical News report notes that the benefits of intermittent fasting appeared to extend beyond simple weight loss or calorie reduction. Even after researchers adjusted for total calorie intake and fat, protein, and carbohydrate consumption, the association between fasting and lower diabetic retinopathy risk remained strong.
Researchers Urge More Clinical Trials
Although the findings are encouraging, the researchers stressed that the study was observational and cannot prove direct cause and effect. They also acknowledged several limitations, including reliance on self-reported eating habits and the inability to measure exact fasting duration or blood ketone levels.
Still, the consistency of the findings impressed the research team. Even when additional statistical methods were used to balance the fasting and non-fasting groups more carefully, intermittent fasting continued to show strong protective associations against diabetic retinopathy.
The researchers believe future large-scale clinical trials are urgently needed to determine whether structured fasting programs could eventually become part of standard diabetes care aimed at protecting vision.
Conclusion
The study adds growing scientific evidence that intermittent fasting may offer far more than weight loss benefits. By potentially reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, supporting healthier blood vessels, and protecting retinal tissues, intermittent fasting could emerge as a simple and affordable lifestyle strategy to help lower the risk of diabetic eye disease. While more research is needed before doctors can officially recommend fasting as a treatment approach, these findings suggest that meal timing and fasting habits may play a surprisingly important role in preserving vision among people with diabetes and prediabetes.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/11/1696
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/diets-and-nutrition
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/diabetes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/ophthalmology-(eye-diseases)
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/glaucoma-news
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