Study and use of nutrition as a tool for the prevention of diseases related to aging (Intermittent Fasting Study): the final report of fellow Beatrice Bertozzi
During these months I had the opportunity to work at Washington University in St. Louis in the research team of Dr. Luigi Fontana as a nutritionist. This opportunity gave me the opportunity to delve into the field of research, so as to get to know this world and appreciate its various aspects. The main objective of this research is the study and use of nutrition as a tool for the prevention of age-related diseases. The underlying theme of the clinical trials I am working on is that of Calorie Restriction (CR).
Studies in laboratory mice have shown that CR, with adequate vitamins and minerals, has potent protective effects against the most common chronic diseases associated with aging. Previous findings from studies performed here at Washington University in St. Louis also demonstrated that humans who practice CR benefit from most of the adaptations that occur in laboratory animals. These include the reduction of levels of chronic inflammation and of several hormones, including insulin, leptin, T3, testosterone and estrogen. Middle-aged and elderly subjects who practiced CR are physiologically younger than their chronological age, considering various measures of cardiovascular function. They are also strongly protected against arteriosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension.
While it is therefore clear that CR has great health benefits in humans, it is still true that it is too difficult to practice to be considered feasible in the long term for the vast majority of people.
Until recently, chronic CR was the only scientifically proven intervention capable of slowing aging and playing a role in protecting against chronic disease in laboratory animals. However, some recent findings strongly suggest that intermittent fasting (intermittent fasting, IF) has an effect in laboratory animals in increasing the maximum life span (lifespan), and even more important it has been shown to lengthen the period of healthy life (health span) of these animals. The effect of IF in rodents depends on the age at which the animals begin fasting and on their species, however data demonstrate an increase in lifespam of up to 80%. Additionally, fasting twice a week for 24 hours throughout adult life demonstrates a significant increase in lifespan in other laboratory animal species. The hypothesis formulated on the data obtained to date is that IF triggers adaptive cellular and molecular responses that increase insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative damage and inflammation, optimize energy metabolism and strengthen resistance to stress. Furthermore, IF has been shown to protect against diabetes, tumors, cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases in non-obese rats.
As for humans, fasting has been and still is practiced safely throughout the world in various religious rituals (Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists traditionally fast on designated days of the year). However, little is known about the effects of IF and its preventive role on human health.
Starting from these assumptions, therefore, the clinical studies I'm working on are aimed at studying the feasibility and metabolic and molecular impact of intermittent fasting as an alternative practice to CR.
