The turnover of ketone bodies and acetate was evaluated as well from the disappearance rate of (3-14C)acetoacetate or (1-14C)acetate respectively as from the conversion of FFA into these metabolites in normal weight and obese overnight-fasted and in obese long-term starved patients. The disappearance rate of (1-14C)oleate was the same in all three groups. Long-term starvation enhanced ketone… Read More

The HDL-cholesterol level was found to decrease during the first week of therapeutic starvation in hyperlipoproteinaemic (hypertriglyceridaemic), diabetic (non-insulin dependent) patients. The possible causes of the finding are discussed, and the view is expressed that the fall in HDL given no cause for discontinuing the caloric restriction or starvation as the therapeutic measures in obesity… Read More

The relationship between altered glucose-insulin interaction in the hyperglycemic period of oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and impaired posthyperglycemic glucose homeostasis was studied in 9 obese females. They underwent 6-hour oGTT following 72-96 hour total fast, and the results of blood glucose, insulin, growth hormone, cortisol, glucagon and free fatty acids were compared to those of… Read More

Retrospective examination of weekly electrocardiograms of 13 patients on zero calorie intake for 97 +/- 25.4 d (mean +/- standard deviation) for morbid obesity demonstrated a significant progressive reduction in QRS voltage by the seventh week. There was a significant prolongation of the QTc interval in the group during the eighth week and in seven patients the QTc had lengthened beyond normal… Read More

Exhaustive graded exercise leads to changes of hormones, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism in normal controls and obese patients after prolonged starvation. Concomitant with a large increase of plasma catecholamines, insulin concentration is reduced and blood glucose levels slowly increase. More glucose is made available by glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis than can be oxidized in the… Read More

Fasting is known to result in marked decreases in urinary urea nitrogen excretion over a 7-day period. In the present studies, changes in whole body protein breakdown rates and in the circulating levels of a number of hormones involved in protein anabolism and catabolism were systematically studied in nine obese subjects after 12 h and after 7 days of fasting. Whole body protein breakdown… Read More

Sodium DL-3-hydroxybutyrate was administered to obese subjects (more than 150% ideal body-weight) who were either receiving a 2 . 5 MJ (600 kcal) diet containing 34 g protein on one day with a total fast (water and vitamins only) on the next day, for 21 days, or were undergoing therapeutic starvation for 14 days. Both intravenous and oral hydroxybutyrate significantly reduced… Read More