Okoshi K, et al. - In order to generate data on the role of intermittent fasting (IF) on pathologic cardiac remodeling, researchers performed this study on Wistar rats and compared the influences of IF prior to and following myocardial infarction (MI) on rat cardiac remodeling and survival. For 12 weeks, the rats were intermittently fasted (food available every other day) or fed ad libitum (AL). Thereafter, three categories of rats were defined: AL – fed ad libitum; AL/IF - fed AL prior to MI and IF after MI; and IF – fed IF before and after MI. They performed echocardiogram before MI and 2 and 12 weeks post-surgery. Attenuation of myocyte hypertrophy and left ventricular dilation was reported as a consequence of intermittent fasting initiated before or after MI. Feeding regimens did not modulate myocardial fibrosis and fetal gene expression. A greater advantage of initiating intermittent fasting before rather than after MI was evident.