Fasting can lower cholesterol levels, especially the bad kinds like LDL and triglycerides, based on several studies.
Many people wonder if skipping meals through fasting changes their cholesterol numbers. Cholesterol comes in different types. LDL is the bad one that clogs arteries. HDL is the good one that helps clean them out. Total cholesterol is the overall amount in your blood. Triglycerides are another type of fat linked to heart risks.
Research on intermittent fasting, where you eat only during certain hours or days, shows positive effects. In one study with 41 people, they fasted on vegetable-only days two or three times a week for six months. This led to an 8 percent drop in body weight and big improvements in lipids. LDL cholesterol went down a lot. Non-HDL cholesterol dropped 11 percent. Triglycerides fell 25 percent. You can read more in this study at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12727815/[1].
Other research agrees. Intermittent fasting cuts bad cholesterol by 6 to 16 mg/dL on average. Some folks see their HDL go up, though results vary. Check details here: https://www.myfastingbuddy.com/blog/fasting-and-cholesterol-hdl-vs-ldl-effects[2].
A trial with a five-day fasting-mimicking diet each month also helped. People lost weight and saw total cholesterol drop, along with better blood sugar. This came from a three-month test with 71 participants. More info at https://www.science.org/content/article/five-day-fasting-diet-could-fight-disease-slow-aging[3].
Seven studies with 520 people looked at total cholesterol. Fasting regimens improved lipid profiles overall. See the full review: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1664811/full[4].
Not every study shows huge changes in HDL or other markers like blood pressure. Weight loss from fasting seems key to the cholesterol benefits, even if you eat a regular diet on non-fasting days. Blogs note it helps LDL and triglycerides too: https://www.oreateai.com/blog/best-intermittent-fasting-to-lower-cholesterol/ff783049e5e7d1a95990d0ab8838eeae[5]. Another report mentions triglycerides dropping in a 5:2 fasting group: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251217/Intermittent-fasting-edges-daily-calorie-cuts-for-blood-pressure-and-long-term-cardiovascular-risk-estimates.aspx[6].
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12727815/
https://www.myfastingbuddy.com/blog/fasting-and-cholesterol-hdl-vs-ldl-effects
https://www.science.org/content/article/five-day-fasting-diet-could-fight-disease-slow-aging
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1664811/full
https://www.oreateai.com/blog/best-intermittent-fasting-to-lower-cholesterol/ff783049e5e7d1a95990d0ab8838eeae
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251217/Intermittent-fasting-edges-daily-calorie-cuts-for-blood-pressure-and-long-term-cardiovascular-risk-estimates.aspx
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.125.323501
