Fasting Literature Database

Biomedical publications about prolonged water-only fasting from 1881-1999

TrueNorth Health Foundation has meticulously curated an extensive database of historical literature on prolonged water-only fasting dating back to the late 19th century.

This collection serves as a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and individuals interested in exploring early perspectives and research on the effects of water-only fasting in humans.

These publications span a range of topics, including physiological effects, clinical applications, and historical reviews, that offer insights into the rich history and evolving understanding of fasting as a therapeutic intervention.

Ketone body turnover during and after exercise in overnight-fasted and starved humans

Fery, F., Balasse, E. O.
Am J Physiol 1983
Abstract

The concentration of ketone bodies and their rate of transport (estimated with an infusion of beta-[14C]-hydroxybutyrate) were determined before, during, and after exercise in overnight-fasted and 3- to 5-day-fasted subjects who walked on a treadmill for 2 h at approximately 50% of their VO2max. In overnight-fasted subjects, exercise increased the rate of turnover (+125% after 2 h) and the… Read More

Failure of fasting to influence the GIP response to oral glucose in non-obese human subjects

Andrews, W. J., Henry, R. W., Alam, M. J., Alberti, K. G., Buchanan, K. D.
Diabetologia 1983
Abstract

The plasma GIP response to an oral 50 g glucose tolerance test has been compared in eight non-obese human subjects after 12 and 36 h of fasting. Basal plasma GIP and basal plasma insulin concentrations were similar after 12 and 36 h of fasting. Basal blood glucose was lower after 36 h fasting than after 12 h fasting (p less than 0.0125). After 36 h fasting the oral glucose tolerance test… Read More

Whole body protein breakdown rates and hormonal adaptation in fasted obese subjects

Henson, L. C., Heber, D.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1983
Abstract

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

Fasting decreases thyrotropin responsiveness to thyrotropin-releasing hormone: a potential cause of misinterpretation of thyroid function tests in the critically ill

Borst, G. C., Osburne, R. C., O'Brian, J. T., Georges, L. P., Burman, K. D.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1983
Abstract

We have previously reported that caloric deprivation inhibits peripheral T4 metabolism and blunts the TSH response to TRH in euthyroid obese subjects. To determine whether these phenomena also occur in hypothyroid subjects, T4, T3, rT3, and the TSH response to TRH were measured initially and after a 60-h fast in seven hypothyroid patients. Short term fasting caused a 29% decrement in the… Read More

Amino acids--their role as an energy source

Woolfson, A. M.
Proc Nutr Soc 1983

Dopamine blockade inhibits starvation ketosis in man

Johnston, D. G., Blesa-Malpica, G., Burrin, J. M., Waugh, C., Cook, D., Orskov, H., Alberti, K. G.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1983
Abstract

The effects of dopamine blockade on the endocrine and metabolic response to starvation have been investigated by administration of metoclopramide, 30 mg daily, or placebo to five normal subjects fasted for sixty hours on two occasions. Blood glucose and alanine concentrations fell with starvation and metoclopramide had no further effect. Concentrations of the other gluconeogenic precursors,… Read More

The fasting levels and the postprandial response of gastroenteropancreatic hormones before and after prolonged fasting

Oktedalen, O., Opstad, P. K., Waldum, H., Jorde, R.
Scand J Gastroenterol 1983
Abstract

The effect of a prolonged 5-day fast on the blood concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), secretin, human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP), gastrin, and group I pepsinogens (PG I) was studied in 11 healthy subjects. During the fast there was a marked increase in the concentrations of VIP, secretin, and hPP, whereas the rise in the concentrations of gastrin and PG I was less… Read More

Hyperbilirubinemia of fasting. A case of postoperative jaundice

Ketterhagen, J., Quackenbush, S.
Arch Surg 1983
Abstract

A patient had substantial jaundice following an uncomplicated appendectomy. After recovery, the hyperbilirubinemia recurred following a 24-hour fast. An analysis to determine the effect of fasting on the bilirubin level in hospitalized patients showed an apparent elevation in the serum unconjugated bilirubin level in the fasting state.

Energy metabolism rate equation for fasting and postabsorptive subjects

Ben-Porat, M., Sideman, S., Bursztein, S.
Am J Physiol 1983
Abstract

The energy metabolism rate, an important parameter in severe clinical polytrauma and burns, is evaluated here using mass conservation law and simple thermodynamic considerations. The expressions for the energy and fat metabolism rates are evaluated utilizing easily measurable quantities: oxygen consumption, CO2 production, and nitrogen excretion rates. The derived equations are identical for… Read More

Ketosis of starvation: a revisit and new perspectives

Owen, O. E., Caprio, S., Reichard, G. A., Jr., Mozzoli, M. A., Boden, G., Owen, R. S.
Clin Endocrinol Metab 1983