August Post 2015

            Intermittent fasting is a term used for voluntarily abstaining from food and drink for a period of time. This practice has been used since early times all around the world. Intermittent fasting is most commonly practiced for religious reasons with Ramadan, being a primary example, which is a Muslim annual observance of fasting during daylight hours for one month. Intermittent fasting is also recently being practiced as a weight loss mechanism by significantly restricting energy intake. Several questions have come up in research about intermittent fasting and its effect on human metabolism.

            A recent study conducted by Patterson and colleagues (2015) observed the health benefits of intermittent fasting focusing on humans, since majority of the current research is based upon animal trials. The researchers are specifically interested in any change in body weight, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study obtained its findings through an alternate-day fasting method, as well as modified fasting and time-restricted feeding methods.

            From the current evidence, Patterson and colleagues (2015) concluded that there is little evidence that intermittent fasting could be harmful for a healthy, normal weight, overweight or obese adult. It was also observed that almost any intermittent fasting regimen can result in some weight loss, however research does not portray that alternate-day fasting regimens produce greater weight loss than a regular calorie restriction diet.

            A study conducted by Tend and colleagues (2012) researched the effect that fasting calorie restriction had on metabolism and DNA damage, or aging, in older men. The study was a randomized control trial including men aged 50-70 years from Malaysia. The participants were split into two groups: fasting calorie restriction (300-500 kcal/day reduction plus 2 days a week of Muslim Sunnah fasting) and the control group. They considered lipid profile and DNA damage at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Results showed that the fasting calorie restriction group promoted weight loss, improved energy and macronutrient intake, improved blood pressure and lipid profile and oxidative stress markers were better when compared to the participants in the control group after 12 weeks.

            Majority of the research studies relating to intermittent fasting and health effects are completed on rodents, so there is still a vast need for more research on this subject. There is insufficient data to fully conclude the most advantageous fasting regimen to promote weight loss and improve metabolic health in humans. There is plenty of evidence supporting the idea that prolonged nightly fasting could have an overall positive effect on health, however this has not been tested on humans. All of this research is a promising lead to benefit human metabolic health, however more research is needed in order to make a strong conclusion on this topic.

AND Article

Patterson, R. E., Laughlin, G. A., LaCroix, A. Z., Hartman, S. J., Natarajan, L., Senger, C. M., & … Gallo, L. C. (2015). Intermittent fasting and human metabolic health. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, 115 (8), 1203-1212.

doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2015.02.018

http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(15)00205-1/fulltext

Supplemental Study Article

Teng,  N. I. M. F., Shahar, S., Rajab, N. F., Manaf, Z. A., Johari, M. H., & Ngah, W. Z. W. (2012). Improvement of metabolic parameters in healthy older adult men following a fasting calorie restriction intervention. Aging Male, 16 (4), 177-183.

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.libproxy.lib.ilstu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&sid=5c3df4ee-d707-4ec2-a487-2f237770372c%40sessionmgr113&hid=114