BACKGROUND: Prolonged dietary restriction increases the life span in rodents. Some evidence suggests that alternate-day fasting may also prolong the life span. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether alternate-day fasting is a feasible method of dietary restriction in nonobese humans and whether it improves known biomarkers of longevity. DESIGN: Nonobese subjects (8 men and 8 women) fasted every other day for 22 d. Body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory quotient (RQ), temperature, fasting serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, and ghrelin were assessed at baseline and after 21 d (12-h fast) and 22 d (36-h fast) of alternate-day fasting. Visual analogue scales were used to assess hunger weekly. RESULTS: Subjects lost 2.5 +/- 0.5% of their initial body weight (P < 0.001) and 4 +/- 1% of their initial fat mass (P < 0.001). Hunger increased on the first day of fasting and remained elevated (P < 0.001). RMR and RQ did not change significantly from baseline to day 21, but RQ decreased on day 22 (P < 0.001), which resulted in an average daily increase in fat oxidation of > or =15 g. Glucose and ghrelin did not change significantly from baseline with alternate-day fasting, whereas fasting insulin decreased 57 +/- 4% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alternate-day fasting was feasible in nonobese subjects, and fat oxidation increased. However, hunger on fasting days did not decrease, perhaps indicating the unlikelihood of continuing this diet for extended periods of time. Adding one small meal on a fasting day may make this approach to dietary restriction more acceptable.
BACKGROUND: Prolonged dietary restriction increases the life span in rodents. Some evidence suggests that alternate-day fasting may also prolong the life span. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether alternate-day fasting is a feasible method of dietary restriction in nonobese humans and whether it improves known biomarkers of longevity. DESIGN: Nonobese subjects (8 men and 8 women) fasted every other day for 22 d. Body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory quotient (RQ), temperature, fasting serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, and ghrelin were assessed at baseline and after 21 d (12-h fast) and 22 d (36-h fast) of alternate-day fasting. Visual analogue scales were used to assess hunger weekly. RESULTS: Subjects lost 2.5 +/- 0.5% of their initial body weight (P < 0.001) and 4 +/- 1% of their initial fat mass (P < 0.001). Hunger increased on the first day of fasting and remained elevated (P < 0.001). RMR and RQ did not change significantly from baseline to day 21, but RQ decreased on day 22 (P < 0.001), which resulted in an average daily increase in fat oxidation of > or =15 g. Glucose and ghrelin did not change significantly from baseline with alternate-day fasting, whereas fasting insulin decreased 57 +/- 4% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alternate-day fasting was feasible in nonobese subjects, and fat oxidation increased. However, hunger on fasting days did not decrease, perhaps indicating the unlikelihood of continuing this diet for extended periods of time. Adding one small meal on a fasting day may make this approach to dietary restriction more acceptable.
Authors: Xiangru Xu; Mohamed R Mughal; F Scott Hall; Maria T G Perona; Paul J Pistell; Justin D Lathia; Srinivasulu Chigurupati; Kevin G Becker; Bruce Ladenheim; Laura E Niklason; George R Uhl; Jean Lud Cadet; Mark P Mattson Journal: J Neurochem Date: 2010-04-29 Impact factor: 5.372
Authors: Grant M Tinsley; M Lane Moore; Austin J Graybeal; Antonio Paoli; Youngdeok Kim; Joaquin U Gonzales; John R Harry; Trisha A VanDusseldorp; Devin N Kennedy; Megan R Cruz Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2019-09-01 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Kim S Stote; David J Baer; Karen Spears; David R Paul; G Keith Harris; William V Rumpler; Pilar Strycula; Samer S Najjar; Luigi Ferrucci; Donald K Ingram; Dan L Longo; Mark P Mattson Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Olga Carlson; Bronwen Martin; Kim S Stote; Erin Golden; Stuart Maudsley; Samer S Najjar; Luigi Ferrucci; Donald K Ingram; Dan L Longo; William V Rumpler; David J Baer; Josephine Egan; Mark P Mattson Journal: Metabolism Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 8.694
Authors: Elizabeth F Sutton; Robbie Beyl; Kate S Early; William T Cefalu; Eric Ravussin; Courtney M Peterson Journal: Cell Metab Date: 2018-05-10 Impact factor: 27.287