In a recent study, researchers found significant changes in various organs of the body during fasting.
This change begins around the third day of the fast and there are major changes in the body’s protein levels. Approximately one-third of the proteins measured were significantly altered, reflecting the general response to caloric deprivation.
The research, conducted by the Precision Medicine University Research Institute (PHURI) at Queen Mary University of London and the Norwegian School of Sports Science, focused on checking the body’s response to long-term fasting and related treatment options. The findings highlight the health benefits and potential health changes of fasting.
Each time you fast, the body adjusts its energy usage and switches from using calories to using fat stores as the main energy source. Despite known metabolic changes, scientific understanding of the body’s response to metabolic changes beyond prolonged fasting is limited.
To close this gap, the research team analyzed more than 3,000 proteins in the blood of 12 healthy workers, performing seven tests. Do a water-only fast for a day. By combining genetic data from large studies, researchers aim to estimate the health benefits of long-term fasting.
About three days into the fasting period, significant changes in protein levels occur, indicating the general response to achieving calorie restriction. The studies showed significant changes in a third of the protein measured in each organ, which were similar across volunteers. These changes are specific to fasting and are not limited to weight loss, but also include changes in proteins important for the neuron-supporting processes of the brain.
Lead researcher Claudia Langenberg emphasized the importance of this study and stated that it provides an unprecedented perspective on the molecular changes that occur in the body during fasting. While fasting is considered an effective weight loss intervention, Langenberg emphasized the implications of the research for understanding its health benefits.
Findings show health benefits of fasting beyond weight loss; After the last considered time, significant changes in total calorie restriction were observed three days later.
