The Effects of Prolonged Water-Only Fasting and Refeeding on Markers of Cardiometabolic Risk.
Eugene L ScharfEvelyn ZeilerMackson NcubePatricia KolbeSu-Yeon HwangAlan C GoldhamerToshia R MyersPublished in: Nutrients (2022)
(1) Background: Cardiometabolic disease, including insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, are major contributors to adverse health outcomes. Fasting has gained interest as a nonpharmacological therapeutic adjunct for these disorders. (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-center study on the effects of prolonged water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food refeeding diet on accepted measures of cardiovascular risk and metabolic health. Participants were recruited from patients who had voluntarily elected to complete a water-only fast in order to improve their overall health according to an established protocol at an independent, residential medical center. Median fasting and refeed lengths were 17 and 8 days, respectively. The primary endpoint was to describe the mean glucose tolerance as indicated by Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores at baseline, end-of-fast (EOF), and end-of-refeed (EOR) visits. Secondary endpoints were to describe the mean weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), lipid panel, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) at the same time points. (3) Results: The study enrolled 48 overweight/obese non-diabetic participants, of which 26 completed the full study protocol. At the EOF visit, the median SBP, AC, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and hsCRP were decreased and triglycerides (TG) and HOMA-IR scores were increased. Conclusion: Prolonged water-only fasting and whole-plant-food refeeding holds potential as a clinical therapy for cardiometabolic disease but increased TG and HOMA-IR values after refeeding necessitate further inquiry.
Keyphrases
- insulin resistance
- blood pressure
- body mass index
- blood glucose
- high fat diet
- adipose tissue
- metabolic syndrome
- type diabetes
- weight loss
- weight gain
- hypertensive patients
- high fat diet induced
- human health
- physical activity
- skeletal muscle
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- low density lipoprotein
- public health
- heart rate
- healthcare
- glycemic control
- mental health
- randomized controlled trial
- study protocol
- clinical trial
- left ventricular
- risk assessment
- health information
- bariatric surgery
- emergency department
- electronic health record
- ejection fraction
- adverse drug
- high density