Researchers discovered that intermittent fasting—eating during certain hours and fasting during others—may help people with diabetes build stronger bones. In a study with diabetic mice, scientists found that fasting improved blood sugar levels and bone density. The key appears to be how fasting changes the bacteria in your gut, which then sends helpful signals to your bones. This research suggests that fasting could be a new way to prevent bone problems that often happen to people with diabetes, though more human studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating during certain times of day (intermittent fasting) could help prevent weak bones in people with diabetes
  • Who participated: Laboratory mice that were given diabetes, then treated with intermittent fasting. This was not a human study.
  • Key finding: Mice that fasted intermittently had better blood sugar control and stronger bones. A specific type of gut bacteria called Christensenellaceae appeared to be responsible for these improvements.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests intermittent fasting might help prevent bone weakness in diabetes, but these results are from mice only. Human studies are needed before doctors can recommend this treatment. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before trying intermittent fasting.

The Research Details

Scientists gave mice a chemical to cause diabetes, then divided them into groups. Some mice ate during certain hours and fasted during others, while control mice ate normally. The researchers measured bone strength using special imaging technology and examined changes in the mice’s gut bacteria using genetic testing. They also did additional experiments where they added or removed specific bacteria to test whether those bacteria were actually responsible for the bone improvements.

The study used several advanced techniques to understand how fasting works. They analyzed the genetic material in gut bacteria, measured chemical signals in the blood, and tracked which genes were turned on or off in bone cells. This multi-layered approach helped them identify the exact pathway from fasting to stronger bones.

This research approach is important because it doesn’t just show that fasting helps bones—it explains the mechanism, or how it works. By identifying the specific bacteria and chemical signals involved, scientists can potentially develop targeted treatments. This is more useful than just knowing fasting helps, because it opens doors to new therapies.

This study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting with mice, which is a standard first step in medical research. The researchers used multiple methods to verify their findings, which increases confidence in the results. However, mice don’t always respond the same way humans do, so these findings need to be tested in human studies before being used as medical treatment. The study appears to be well-designed with appropriate control groups and verification experiments.

What the Results Show

Mice that practiced intermittent fasting showed significant improvements in blood sugar control compared to mice that ate normally. More importantly, their bones became noticeably stronger and denser. Researchers measured this using detailed imaging that showed improvements in bone thickness, bone volume, and overall bone structure.

The researchers discovered that intermittent fasting changed which bacteria lived in the mice’s guts. Specifically, a type of bacteria called Christensenellaceae became more abundant. When scientists added this bacteria to other diabetic mice, those mice also developed stronger bones, even without fasting. This proved that this specific bacteria was responsible for the bone improvements.

The bacteria work by releasing tiny packages called exosomes that carry a molecule called miR551b. These packages travel from the gut to the bones and activate bone-building cells. When researchers added these exosome packages to diabetic mice, bone strength improved. When they blocked miR551b, the benefits disappeared. This showed the exact chain of events from fasting to stronger bones.

The study found that different types of bacteria had different effects. Christensenellaceae-derived exosomes were more effective at improving bones than exosomes from other bacteria like Lactobacillus. This suggests that not all gut bacteria are equally helpful for bone health. The research also identified specific genes involved in the process, suggesting that multiple biological pathways work together to strengthen bones.

Previous research showed that diabetes damages bones and that intermittent fasting helps control blood sugar. This study builds on that knowledge by explaining how fasting protects bones—through changes in gut bacteria. This is a new discovery that wasn’t previously understood. The findings align with growing research showing that gut bacteria influence many aspects of health beyond digestion.

This study was conducted only in mice, not humans. Mice have different biology than people, so results may not directly apply to humans. The study didn’t test different fasting schedules or durations, so we don’t know which fasting approach works best. The research also didn’t compare intermittent fasting to other diabetes treatments or bone-strengthening approaches. Additionally, the study didn’t examine potential side effects or long-term safety in humans. More research in human volunteers is essential before this can become a recommended treatment.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research alone, intermittent fasting cannot yet be recommended as a treatment for diabetic bone disease. The evidence is promising but limited to animal studies. If you have diabetes and are concerned about bone health, current recommendations include: maintaining adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, doing weight-bearing exercise, and following your doctor’s diabetes management plan. If you’re interested in trying intermittent fasting, discuss it with your healthcare provider first, as it may affect diabetes medications.

This research is most relevant to people with diabetes who are concerned about bone health, and to researchers studying diabetes complications. It’s also interesting to people exploring intermittent fasting as a health strategy. However, people should not change their diabetes treatment based on this single animal study. Those with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, people with eating disorders, and those taking certain medications should be especially cautious about fasting without medical supervision.

In the mice studied, bone improvements appeared within the timeframe of the experiment, but the exact timeline wasn’t specified. If these findings eventually apply to humans, benefits would likely take weeks to months to become noticeable, since bone changes happen slowly. Any human studies would need to run for several months or longer to measure meaningful bone density changes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track fasting windows and blood sugar readings together to identify patterns. For example, log your eating schedule (when you start and stop eating each day) alongside blood glucose measurements if you monitor them. This helps you see if your personal fasting pattern correlates with blood sugar control.
  • If your doctor approves, try a simple intermittent fasting schedule like eating during an 8-hour window each day. Use the app to set reminders for your eating and fasting periods, and log how you feel during fasting times. Track any changes in energy levels, hunger, or blood sugar readings over 4-6 weeks.
  • Create a long-term tracking dashboard that shows your fasting consistency (percentage of days you stick to your schedule), blood sugar trends if applicable, and any bone-related symptoms like joint pain or fractures. Review this monthly to see if your fasting practice correlates with improvements in how you feel. Share this data with your doctor at regular checkups.

This research was conducted in mice and has not been tested in humans. These findings should not be used to change your diabetes treatment or bone health management without consulting your healthcare provider. Intermittent fasting may interact with diabetes medications and is not appropriate for everyone, including pregnant women, people with a history of eating disorders, and those with certain medical conditions. Always discuss any dietary changes with your doctor before starting. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.