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A groundbreaking study has revealed how the body undergoes significant and systematic transformations during extended periods of fasting. The research, conducted by experts at Queen Mary University of London’s Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (PHURI) and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, highlights that these transformations, including various health benefits, become detectable after three full days without food. The study sheds light on the molecular and physiological changes that occur during prolonged fasting, offering insights into how fasting affects the body beyond weight loss.
Health Benefits of Fasting Unveiled
The recent study, published in Nature Metabolism, delves into the body’s response to extended fasting, offering new insights into its potential health benefits. The research team explored fasting’s effects at the molecular level, providing a detailed look at how the body reacts to periods of complete caloric restriction. These findings suggest that the health benefits of fasting may extend beyond its widely known effect on weight loss, with implications for treating a variety of medical conditions.
The study lays the groundwork for future research that could lead to therapeutic treatments based on fasting. In particular, it could inform new approaches for individuals who are unable to engage in extended fasting themselves or follow fasting-mimicking diets, such as ketogenic plans.
Historical Context and Modern Techniques
Fasting is not a new concept. For thousands of years, humans have adapted to survive without food, using it for medical, cultural, and spiritual purposes. From managing conditions like epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis to enhancing general health and longevity, fasting has proven to be a versatile tool throughout history.
Today, fasting is commonly practiced for various reasons, including improved health and weight loss. Modern techniques now allow researchers to study fasting in great detail, using advanced methods to measure thousands of proteins circulating in the blood. This has enabled a deeper understanding of how the body responds to prolonged fasting, beyond the traditional knowledge that it involves a shift from glucose to fat as the primary energy source.
Detailed Observations from a Controlled Study
The study involved 12 healthy volunteers who participated in a seven-day water-only fast. Researchers tracked the changes in the volunteers’ blood, measuring the levels of around 3,000 proteins before, during, and after the fasting period. The results revealed that within the first two to three days of fasting, the body switched from using glucose to burning stored fat for energy. On average, the volunteers lost 5.7 kg of both fat and lean mass. Notably, after resuming normal eating, the fat mass remained off, while lean mass was nearly fully regained.
For the first time, the study identified distinct molecular changes that occurred after three days of fasting, suggesting a whole-body response to total caloric restriction. One in three proteins measured across major organs changed significantly during fasting, providing new insights into the health impacts of prolonged fasting. These changes went beyond weight loss, revealing alterations in proteins that are part of the structural support of neurons in the brain, highlighting the broader effects of fasting on the nervous system.
Expert Insights on Fasting’s Effects
Dr. Claudia Langenberg, Director of PHURI, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the findings: “For the first time, we’re able to see what’s happening on a molecular level across the body when we fast. Fasting, when done safely, is an effective weight loss intervention. Popular diets that incorporate fasting, such as intermittent fasting, claim to have health benefits beyond weight loss. Our results provide evidence for these benefits, but only after three days of complete caloric restriction – later than we previously thought.”
Dr. Maik Pietzner, Health Data Chair of PHURI and co-lead of the Computational Medicine Group at the Berlin Institute of Health, added: “Our findings have provided a basis for some age-old knowledge as to why fasting is used for certain conditions. While fasting may be beneficial for treating some conditions, it’s not always an option for patients who are unwell. We hope these findings can lead to new treatments for patients who are unable to fast themselves.”
Conclusion
The findings from this study offer exciting new insights into the complex processes of fasting. While its effects on weight loss are well known, this research suggests that fasting also triggers profound molecular changes that may provide health benefits beyond what has been previously understood. As this field of study continues to evolve, it holds the potential to inform new therapeutic approaches and offer a deeper understanding of how the human body can adapt to extended periods of fasting.
Reference: “Systemic proteome adaptations to 7-day complete caloric restriction in humans” by Maik Pietzner, Burulça Uluvar, Kristoffer J. Kolnes, Per B. Jeppesen, S. Victoria Frivold, Øyvind Skattebo, Egil I. Johansen, Bjørn S. Skålhegg, Jørgen F. P. Wojtaszewski, Anders J. Kolnes, Giles S. H. Yeo, Stephen O’Rahilly, Jørgen Jensen, and Claudia Langenberg, Nature Metabolism, 30 February 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01008-9
