Medical Bulletin 18/February/2026

The Cochrane review analyzed data from 22 randomized clinical trials involving 1,995 adults across North America, Europe, China, Australia, and South America. The studies examined various forms of intermittent fasting, including alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, and time-restricted feeding. Most trials followed participants for up to 12 months.

Researchers found no clinically meaningful difference in weight loss between intermittent fasting and standard dietary advice. In other words, fasting did not appear to provide additional benefits over conventional calorie-reduction strategies. Comparisons with no intervention also showed limited impact.

Luis Garegnani, lead author from the Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires Cochrane Associate Centre, said intermittent fasting “just doesn’t seem to work” as a superior strategy for weight loss in overweight or obese adults. He also cautioned that online enthusiasm may be outpacing scientific evidence.

The review highlighted limitations, including small sample sizes, inconsistent reporting of side effects, and a lack of long-term data. Most studies involved predominantly white populations in high-income countries, limiting generalizability.

Experts conclude that while intermittent fasting may suit some individuals, doctors should adopt a case-by-case approach when advising patients on weight loss.

REFERENCE: Garegnani, L. I., et al. (2026) Intermittent fasting for adults with overweight or obesity. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015610.pub2. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015610.pub2/full

Microbe-Rich Foods Associated With Better Insulin, Cholesterol Markers: Study

A recent study published in Nutrition Research examined whether eating foods that contain live microbes (LMs) is linked to better health. The researchers also aimed to create the first Australian database estimating the live microbe content of commonly consumed foods and drinks.

Live microbes are naturally found in foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, fermented products like yogurt, and probiotic-containing items. While previous research—mainly from the United States—has suggested that higher intake of these foods may be linked to lower disease risk and mortality, little data exist for Australian populations.

To address this gap, the team developed a live microbe food database using data from the AUSNUT food composition database linked to the Australian Eating Survey (AES). Foods were categorized as low, medium, or high in live microbial content, based on published estimation methods rather than direct laboratory testing.

The study included 58 adults from the Newcastle region of Australia, mostly women (69%) and predominantly Caucasian (86%), with an average age of 38 years and an average BMI of 26.2 kg/m². Researchers assessed cardiometabolic markers including BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, fasting glucose, insulin, waist circumference, and inflammatory markers such as CRP and IL-6.

Participants consumed mostly low-LM foods. However, higher intake of medium and high-LM foods was associated with healthier outcomes. Specifically, greater consumption of these foods was linked to higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lower BMI, waist circumference, body weight, and fasting insulin levels. After adjusting for factors such as gender, smoking, and energy intake, associations with HDL-C, BMI, insulin, and waist circumference remained significant.

Due to the small sample size and cross-sectional design, the study cannot establish causation. Larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm whether increasing dietary live microbe intake directly improves metabolic health.

REFERENCE: Gómez-Martín M, Clarke ED, Stanford J, Fenton S, Collins CE (2026). Association between dietary intake of foods estimated to contain live microbes and health indicators in Australian adults: An exploratory analysis. Nutrition Research, 147, 32-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2026.01.005, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531726000096

Lab-Grown Human Spinal Cord Shows Healing After Injury in Major Breakthrough

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed one of the most advanced lab-grown models yet for studying human spinal cord injury, offering new hope for regenerative therapies.

The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, used human spinal cord organoids — miniature, stem cell–derived versions of the spinal cord — to recreate different types of traumatic injury. For the first time, researchers showed that these organoids can accurately mimic the key biological features of spinal cord injury, including cell death, inflammation, and glial scarring. Glial scars form a dense barrier that blocks nerve repair and is a major reason why paralysis is often permanent.

The team, led by Samuel I. Stupp, also tested an experimental therapy known as “dancing molecules.” This treatment consists of supramolecular therapeutic peptides that self-assemble into a nanofiber scaffold resembling the spinal cord’s natural structure. The molecules are designed to move dynamically, allowing them to interact more effectively with constantly shifting cell receptors.

When injured organoids were treated with fast-moving dancing molecules, the results were striking. Researchers observed significant neurite outgrowth — meaning damaged neurons began extending new projections again — along with a major reduction in scar-like tissue. Slower-moving versions of the molecules were far less effective.

In earlier animal studies, a single injection of the therapy enabled paralyzed mice to regain the ability to walk within weeks. The treatment has since received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The researchers believe these organoids could accelerate therapy testing in human tissue without immediate reliance on clinical trials. Future work will focus on modeling chronic injuries and potentially developing personalized regenerative treatments using patients’ own stem cells.

REFERENCE: Nozomu Takata, Zhiwei Li, Anna Metlushko, Feng Chen, Nicholas A. Sather, Xinyi Lin, Matthew J. Schipma, Oscar A. Carballo-Molina, Cassandre Jamroz, Madison E. Strong, Cara S. Smith, Yang Yang, Ching M. Wai, Neha Joshi, Jack Kolberg-Edelbrock, Kyle J. Gray, Suitu Wang, Liam C. Palmer, Samuel I. Stupp. Injury and therapy in a human spinal cord organoid. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s41551-025-01606-2