An American study recently observed that intermittent fasting could reduce age-related decline in bowel function.
- Intermittent fasting is a method of going without food for a certain period of time before starting to eat again.
- According to American researchers, intermittent fasting has long-term benefits for intestinal health.
- Intermittent fasting may reduce age-related decline in bowel function.
Very popular in recent years, intermittent fasting consists of alternating phases where you do not eat and periods of food intake. This method is of interest in the context of weight loss, but it would also make it possible to better process glucose as well as limit the age-related decline in intestinal function, according to a recent American study.
Intermittent fasting would allow better glucose control
Over time, the morphology of the mammalian small intestine undergoes damaging changes, which impair its ability to absorb nutrients and maintain its structure. In this research, scientists from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University (United States) focused on the jejunum, a part of the small intestine, which participates in the absorption of nutrients. They were interested in the effects of intermittent fasting to slow down this natural aging and return the jejunum to a “younger” version of itself. This work was presented during the American Physiology Summitthe annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), held in Long Beach, California.
For the purposes of the study, the researchers used genetically modified mice to accelerate their aging. Some rodents had constant access to food while the other subjects experienced intermittent fasting and ate every other day.
Nearly eight months after the start of the study, the mice subjected to intermittent fasting had gained less weight and showed structural changes in the small intestine associated with better glucose control and reduced inflammation. “Our data suggest that intermittent fasting-induced weight loss is likely not due to calorie restriction alone, but is also facilitated, at least partially, by a change in glucose metabolism (…) This could mean that intermittent fasting-induced weight loss is more likely to have long-term effects than simple calorie restriction.”noted Spencer Vroegop, first author of the study and a second-year student at Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Intermittent fasting: more marked effects in female mice
The scientists also found that the effects of intermittent fasting seemed greater in female mice than in male mice. They noticed greater differences in the health and appearance of the small intestine and the way sugars are transported in female mice. However, the effect on blood sugar was more marked in males. Currently, researchers are conducting follow-up studies to better understand the factors behind these specific gender differences.
As Spencer Vroegop reminded us, these results should not be considered medical advice. For the moment, this study was carried out on mice, and not on humans. Additionally, intermittent fasting is an area of recent study. There is therefore no scientific consensus yet on the risks and benefits of this method.
