A randomized controlled trial to isolate the effects of fasting and energy restriction on weight loss and metabolic health in lean adults

Journal article


Templeman, Iain, Smith, Harry Alex, Chowdhury, Enhad, Chen, Yung-Chih, Carroll, Harriet, Johnson-Bonson, Drusus, Hengist, Aaron, Smith, Rowan, Creighton, Jade, Clayton, David, Varley, Ian, Karagounis, Leonidas Georgios, Wilhelmsen, Andrew, Tsintzas, Kostas, Reeves, Sue, Walhin, Jean-Philippe, Gonzalez, Javier T., Thompson, Dylan and Betts, James A.. (2021). A randomized controlled trial to isolate the effects of fasting and energy restriction on weight loss and metabolic health in lean adults. Science Translational Medicine. 13(598), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abd8034
AuthorsTempleman, Iain, Smith, Harry Alex, Chowdhury, Enhad, Chen, Yung-Chih, Carroll, Harriet, Johnson-Bonson, Drusus, Hengist, Aaron, Smith, Rowan, Creighton, Jade, Clayton, David, Varley, Ian, Karagounis, Leonidas Georgios, Wilhelmsen, Andrew, Tsintzas, Kostas, Reeves, Sue, Walhin, Jean-Philippe, Gonzalez, Javier T., Thompson, Dylan and Betts, James A.
Abstract

Intermittent fasting may impart metabolic benefits independent of energy balance by initiating fasting-mediated mechanisms. This randomized controlled trial examined 24-hour fasting with 150% energy intake on alternate days for 3 weeks in lean, healthy individuals (0:150; n = 12). Control groups involved a matched degree of energy restriction applied continuously without fasting (75% energy intake daily; 75:75; n = 12) or a matched pattern of fasting without net energy restriction (200% energy intake on alternate days; 0:200; n = 12). Primary outcomes were body composition, components of energy balance, and postprandial metabolism. Daily energy restriction (75:75) reduced body mass (−1.91 ± 0.99 kilograms) almost entirely due to fat loss (−1.75 ± 0.79 kilograms). Restricting energy intake via fasting (0:150) also decreased body mass (−1.60 ± 1.06 kilograms; P = 0.46 versus 75:75) but with attenuated reductions in body fat (−0.74 ± 1.32 kilograms; P = 0.01 versus 75:75), whereas fasting without energy restriction (0:200) did not significantly reduce either body mass (−0.52 ± 1.09 kilograms; P ≤ 0.04 versus 75:75 and 0:150) or fat mass (−0.12 ± 0.68 kilograms; P ≤ 0.05 versus 75:75 and 0:150). Postprandial indices of cardiometabolic health and gut hormones, along with the expression of key genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue, were not statistically different between groups (P > 0.05). Alternate-day fasting less effectively reduces body fat mass than a matched degree of daily energy restriction and without evidence of fasting-specific effects on metabolic regulation or cardiovascular health.

KeywordsIntermittent fasting; body fat content ; alternate fasting ; daily restriction
Year01 Jan 2021
JournalScience Translational Medicine
Journal citation13 (598), pp. 1-12
PublisherAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science
ISSN1946-6234
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abd8034
Web address (URL)https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abd8034
Open accessOpen access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-12
Author's accepted manuscript
License
All rights reserved
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Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online16 Jun 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted10 May 2021
Deposited20 Nov 2024
Additional information

Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

This is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.

Funding: This work was funded by the University of Bath and Nottingham Trent University.

Supplementary material available at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abd8034
All data associated with this paper is present in the main text or the Supplementary Materials. Primary data are available in data file S1.

Place of publicationUnited States
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