The physiological, cognitive state, and motor behavior changes that occur during acute fasting are not completely understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the effect of 2-day total fasting on evoked stress, mood, brain activity, and cognitive, psychomotor, and motor function in overweight women. Eleven overweight women (body mass index above 25kg/m(2)) aged 20-30 years were… Read More

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by dysregulation of stress systems and by abnormalities in cerebral energy metabolism. Stress induction has been shown to impact neurometabolism in healthy individuals. Contrarily, neurometabolic changes in response to stress are insufficiently investigated in MDD patients. Metabolic stress was induced in MDD patients (MDD, N = 24) and in… Read More

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to observe the influence of 11-days complete water fasting (WF) and regeneration diet (RD) on renal function, body weight, blood pressure and oxidative stress. BACKGROUND: Therapeutic WF is considered a healing method. METHODS: Ten volunteers drank only water for 11 days, followed by RD for the next 11 days. Data on body weight, blood… Read More

BACKGROUND: Fasting interventions have shown effectiveness in alleviating stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, no quantitative analysis has been carried out thus far. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of fasting interventions on stress, anxiety and depression and if these interventions were associated with increased or decreased fatigue/energy. METHODS: Overall, 11… Read More

BACKGROUND: Short-term starvation prior to chemotherapy administration protects mice against toxicity. We undertook dose-escalation of fasting prior to platinum-based chemotherapy to determine safety and feasibility in cancer patients. METHODS: 3 cohorts fasted before chemotherapy for 24, 48 and 72 h (divided as 48 pre-chemo and 24 post-chemo) and recorded all calories consumed. Feasibility… Read More

Fasting has been practiced for millennia, but, only recently, studies have shed light on its role in adaptive cellular responses that reduce oxidative damage and inflammation, optimize energy metabolism, and bolster cellular protection. In lower eukaryotes, chronic fasting extends longevity, in part, by reprogramming metabolic and stress resistance pathways. In rodents intermittent or periodic… Read More

Background: Water-only fasting (WF) is a practice used to improve and maintain health. Objective: The aim of the study was to show whether WF performed for 8 days may be a threat to the health and/or life of people undergoing this practice. Methods: Twelve middle-aged men participated in the study. During the 8-day WF, the subjects ate no food except for drinking mineral water. Before and… Read More

The Tohoku University method of fasting therapy was performed on 380 patients. The clinical results revealed an efficacy rate of 87%. With regard to psychosomatic diseases, irritable colon syndrome, neurocirculatory asthenia, mild diabetes mellitus, obesity and borderline hypertension were good indications for this therapy. In order to clarify the therapeutic mechanism,… Read More