Intermittent Fasting: A Potential Bridge for Metabolic Health and Quality of Life

Abstract

In contemporary societies, individuals usually consume meals at least thrice daily. Nevertheless, excessive consumption of food in this manner can frequently result in metabolic health problems such as insulin resistance and excessive accumulation of visceral fat, particularly when combined with a sedentary way of life. Over time, animals, including humans, have adapted to survive in environments where food was scarce. These adjustments enabled them to operate at a high level physically and mentally even when deprived of nourishment. Intermittent fasting (IF) involves eating patterns where people refrain from consuming energy for extended periods, typically lasting from 16 to 48 hours, followed by regular food intake on a recurring basis. We refer to this as periodic fasting (PF), which involves fasting or following diets that imitate fasting for durations ranging from 2 to 21 or more days. Laboratory investigations on rodents and mice have demonstrated that both IF and PF have notable positive impacts on various aspects of well-being. Significantly, they can also counteract disease processes and enhance overall function in experimental models of a broad range of age-related disorders, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.