Fasting ⇒ New discoveries into the effects of fasting on metabolism and aging

[biohacker112]

New discoveries into the effects of fasting on metabolism and aging

Fasting diets may be incredibly popular at the moment but it is only in the last few years that scientists have begun to understand what happens to the human body when it is wholly deprived of food. A compelling new study by a team of Japanese researchers has offered an incredibly thorough examination into the metabolic alterations that occur in human blood during fasting, revealing a fascinating array of changes that could point to a variety of health benefits.

"Recent aging studies have shown that caloric restriction and fasting have a prolonging effect on lifespan in model animals ... but the detailed mechanism has remained a mystery," explains Takayuki Teruya, first author on the new study.

The research set out to exhaustively analyze the metabolic profile of blood samples as subjects underwent an extensive stretch of fasting. Four healthy participants were recruited and subjected to a long fast, with blood samples taken at three points in the process: 10, 34 and 58 hours after commencing fasting. Unlike prior research, which often focused on specific metabolic biomarkers, this study was non-targeted with a goal of uncovering previously unidentified metabolic effects from fasting.

"Contrary to the original expectation," says Teruya, "it turned out that fasting induced metabolic activation rather actively."

The researchers identified 44 different blood-based metabolites significantly increasing in abundance after 58 hours of fasting, including 30 that have never before been connected to the practice. Alongside known markers signaling the body is moving to utilizing alternative energy stores, such as butyrates and branched-chain amino acids, an interesting increase in anti-oxidant metabolites was found. It is suggested this could be an evolutionary defense against the oxidative stress put on the body during fasting.

Other previously unidentified metabolites revealed in the study signaled enhanced mitochondrial activity. This discovery adds weight to a compelling Harvard study from last year that suggested fasting can increase longevity and promote healthy aging by kickstarting youthful plasticity in mitochondrial networks.

For more, click the link below:

https://newatlas.com/fasting-blood-meta ... lth/58289/

[NewLifeScience]

I remember years ago hearing about more than one study looking into the 'reasons' that some people live longer than others (in the late 90s) and the studies were pointing to a hereditary cause.

There was on at least 2 occasions (2 different studies) where there was a third group. It was people for one reason or another who had lost 1/3 of their body weight (the studies didn't expand on that, but obviously whatever the cause, even if it was illness, the people had survived).

Obviously (to me at least) this significant weight loss kick started a boost in NMN and NAD.