Clinical Research
TrueNorth Health Foundation is dedicated to conducting clinical research that explores the transformative potential of prolonged water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food diet.
Our research covers a wide spectrum, ranging from retrospective studies assessing the safety of medically supervised water-only fasting to prospective studies investigating the effects of fasting and refeeding on human health.
TrueNorth Health Foundation is engaged in several studies exploring various aspects of fasting medicine. These studies serve as crucial steppingstones in our quest to uncover and improve upon the benefits of prolonged water-only fasting.
We are not currently enrolling participants, but you can sign up to be notified about future research opportunities. Your interest helps us build a community of individuals committed to advancing the science of fasting and lifestyle-based health interventions.
Upcoming Trials
Remotely administered fasting in people with multiple cardiometabolic conditions
This pilot study will assess the safety and feasibility of a home-based, remotely supervised fasting and refeeding intervention in people with hypertension, obesity, and other components of metabolic syndrome.
Fasting in the management of follicular Lymphoma
This preliminary study will begin to observe and quantify the effects of fasting on low-grade follicular lymphoma.
Does fasting lower Lp(a)?
This pilot study will begin to assess the immediate and long-term effects of prolonged water-only fasting on Lp(a).
Fasting in the management of long-COVID
This preliminary study will begin to observe and quantify the effects of fasting on symptoms of long-COVID.
Completed Trials
Effects of Fasting in Normal-Weight Women
This preliminary study assessed the immediate and sustained effects of prolonged water-only fasting and whole-plant food refeeding in healthy, normal-weight females. This data was collected as part of NCT04514146. Read the results of the study here.
Is Fasting a Safe and Feasible Treatment for High Blood Pressure?
This study assessed the safety and feasibility of prolonged water-only fasting and whole-plant-food refeeding for treatment of stage 1 and 2 hypertensive patients. Preliminary research suggests that water-only fasting efficiently lowers blood pressure and may effectively improve implementation of and adherence to lifestyle changes. This study will extend this research to quantify adverse events and treatment completion and patient acceptability. Mean changes in resting blood pressure as well as markers of cardiovascular health and inflammation between baseline and end-of-fast, end-of-refeed, six-weeks, and 12-months post departure will also be reported. This data was collected as part of NCT04515095. Read the results of the study here.
How Does Fasting Affect Body Composition?
It is well known that prolonged water-only fasting reduces total body weight and increases lipolysis or fat metabolism, but the effects on individual body mass compartments (i.e., lean, fat, and bone) are less defined. This study assessed the effects of water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food diet free of salt, oil, and sugar for an additional six weeks on total body composition including lean mass, fat mass, and bone mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA). DXA can also estimate quantity of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a strong indicator of insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for cardio-metabolic and inflammatory disorders. This data was collected as a part of NCT04514146. Study results coming soon!
Sustained Effects of Fasting and Refeeding in People with Overweight and Obesity
This study examined the sustained effects of prolonged water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food refeeding diet on measures of cardiovascular and metabolic health including insulin sensitivity using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), body weight, blood pressure, abdominal circumference, high-sensitivity CRP, and plasma lipoproteins by following participants for an additional six weeks after fasting and refeeding ended. This is one of the first studies of prolonged water-only fasting with such long-term follow up. This data was collected as part of NCT04514146. Read the results of the study here.
Immediate Effects of Fasting and Refeeding in People with Overweight and Obesity
This study examined the effects of prolonged water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food refeeding diet on measures of cardiovascular risk and metabolic health including insulin sensitivity (or resistance) using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), body weight, blood pressure, abdominal circumference, high-sensitivity CRP, and plasma lipoproteins. This data was collected as part of NCT04507516. Read the results of the study here.
Does Fasting Affect Taste?
The Taste Adaptation Pilot Study was conducted in conjunction with the National University of Natural Medicine to better understand the effects of prolonged water-only fasting on taste sensitivity and food liking. The motivation behind this study is growing evidence that the over-consumption of sweet, fatty, and salty foods and the under-consumption of fruits and vegetables is a contributing factor to numerous chronic diseases. Our aim was to do a preliminary assessment to determine if water-only fasting affects sensitivity to salty and sweet tastes. We also assessed if a change in taste sensitivity can be correlated to dietary preference and consumption. Read the results of the study here.
Is Medically Supervised, Prolonged Water-Only Fasting Safe?
A retrospective safety study of prolonged water-only fasting and whole-plant-food refeeding. This is the first study to assess adverse events that occur during the prolonged water-only fasting and refeeding intervention implemented at the TrueNorth Health Center. Read the results of the study here.
Immediate Effects of Fasting on High Blood Pressure
A retrospective study on the effects of prolonged water-only fasting in patients with stage 1 and 2 hypertension. Read the results of the study here.
Immediate Effects of Fasting on Borderline High Blood Pressure
A retrospective study on the effects of prolonged water-only fasting in patients with pre-hypertension. Read the results of the study here.
