Fasting Literature Database

The effects of fasting for 7 days were investigated in 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in comparison with a control regimen in a cross-over trial. The effects of fasting on clinical performance and blood neutrophil functions were studied. During fasting, with a mean weight loss of 5.1 kg, clinical inflammation in the joints and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased.… Read More

This study was designed to address the question of whether decreased hypothalamic TRH secretion was responsible for the transient decline in serum TSH levels characteristic of the early phase of fasting in man. Changes in serum TSH, total T4 (TT4), free T4 (FT4), and total T3 (TT3)/TT4 and total rT3(TrT3)/TT4 ratio values together with plasma TRH levels were evaluated before, during, and after… 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

Skeletal muscle function and standard nutritional assessment parameters were measured in six obese patients. Base-line measurements were made on a weight-maintaining diet, and further measurements after 2 wk of a 400-cal diet, followed by 2 wk of fasting and then after 2 wk of refeeding. The function of the adductor pollicis muscle was assessed by electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve. The… 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 net body protein… Read More