Fasting for Immune Health in Healthy Adults

Overseen By Antonio Ji

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Davis

Must not be taking: Lipid medications, Hormonal birth control

Disqualifiers: Smoking, Anemia, Pregnancy, Diabetes, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

4 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the impact of fasting on the immune system in healthy adults. The main focus is to determine if a 36-hour water-only fast can alter immune function. Men who are generally healthy and within a normal weight range may be eligible, particularly if they are willing to fast and provide blood and stool samples for study purposes. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific understanding of fasting and immunity.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that participants do not regularly use over-the-counter allergy or pain medications more than once a week and do not take prescription lipid medications or hormonal birth control. If you are taking these, you would need to stop to participate.

What prior data suggests that dietary fasting is safe for healthy adults?

Research has shown that fasting can affect the immune system in various ways. Some studies suggest that intermittent fasting might improve health by enhancing immune cell function and reducing inflammation, potentially helping the body fight diseases.

However, not all findings are positive. For instance, skipping meals like breakfast might weaken the immune system and increase the risk of heart disease. These effects can vary from person to person.

Overall, fasting appears to have both potential benefits and risks. Consider individual health needs and consult a healthcare provider before making dietary or lifestyle changes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about dietary fasting for immune health because it explores a natural and non-invasive approach to boosting the immune system. Unlike traditional methods that might rely on medication or supplements, fasting taps into the body's own biological processes to enhance immune function. This approach could potentially offer a more holistic and sustainable way to maintain immune health without the side effects associated with some pharmaceutical interventions. By leveraging the body's natural response to fasting, this treatment could provide a fresh alternative to conventional immune-boosting strategies.

What evidence suggests that dietary fasting might be an effective treatment for immune health?

Research has shown that fasting, which participants in this trial will undergo, can positively affect the immune system. Studies suggest that intermittent fasting might boost immune function and reduce inflammation. It can also improve gut health, closely linked to overall immunity. Some evidence indicates that short-term fasting may even help the body fight infections. While more research is needed, these early findings suggest fasting could enhance immune health in healthy adults. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy male adults aged 20-40, with a BMI of 19-27 and weighing at least 120 lbs. Participants must have normal fasting glucose levels (70-100 mg/dL) and be willing to fast for 36 hours drinking only water. They also need to agree to provide stool samples throughout the study and monitor their blood sugar using a provided kit.

Inclusion Criteria

I am male.

BMI: 19-27 kg/m2 to constitute a normal/healthy weight population

I am between 20 and 40 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Current smoking

Pregnancy or current breastfeeding

I have anemia.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Fasting Intervention

Participants undergo a fasting regimen to assess its effects on the immune system

7 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the fasting intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dietary Fasting

Trial Overview The trial is exploring how not eating for a set period affects the immune system in healthy people. It involves tests like immune profiling, gene expression analysis, and flow cytometry on blood cells that are part of the body's defense system.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Fasting Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Dietary fasting.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Davis

Lead Sponsor

Trials

958

Recruited

4,816,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Short-term fasting significantly reduces the number of circulating monocytes and their inflammatory activity, which may help improve chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

The study found that this effect is regulated by dietary glucose and protein levels, with mechanisms involving the activation of AMPK in the liver and suppression of CCL2 production, linking caloric intake to immune response and inflammation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Intake Regulates the Circulating Inflammatory Monocyte Pool. Jordan, S., Tung, N., Casanova-Acebes, M., et al.[2020]

A 24-hour fast significantly increased the expression of IL-1 receptor type 2 (IL-1R2) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) in mice, suggesting that fasting enhances the body's ability to resist IL-1, a key player in inflammation.

Fasting not only protects against IL-1β-induced negative effects like weight loss and anxiety but also triggers increases in plasma free-fatty acids, which may signal the body to suppress immune responses during fasting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fasting Induces IL-1 Resistance and Free-Fatty Acid-Mediated Up-Regulation of IL-1R2 and IL-1RA. Joesting, JJ., Moon, ML., Gainey, SJ., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10011094/

Intermittent fasting and immunomodulatory effects IF could benefit health subjects by strengthening their circadian rhythms, migrating immune cells, lower inflammatory factors, and enriching microbials.

2. ifm.org ifm.org/articles/fasting-and-immune-health

Fasting and Immune Health Explore how fasting supports immune function, reduces inflammation, and enhances gut microbiota through evidence-based nutrition strategies.

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41423-023-01033-w

The immune hunger games: the effects of fasting on ... While several studies have suggested that short-term fasting can boost immune function and protect against certain infections, the effects of ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997223001428

A promising dietary intervention for autoimmune diseases Intermittent fasting alters and improves gut microbiota in autoimmune diseases. · Intermittent fasting reduces inflammatory markers in autoimmune diseases.

5. mskcc.org mskcc.org/news/fasting-primes-immune-systems-natural-killer-cells-to-better-fight-cancer-new-study-in-mice-finds

Fasting Primes the Immune System's Natural Killer Cells to ... Periods of fasting reprogram the immune system's natural killer cells to better fight cancer, according to a new study in mice from researchers at Memorial ...

6. mountsinai.org mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/skipping-breakfast-may-compromise-the-immune-system

Skipping Breakfast May Compromise the Immune System Fasting may be detrimental to fighting off infection, and could lead to an increased risk of heart disease, according to a new study by the Icahn School of ...