Fasting may boost Metabolism

Occasional fasting may not only help people lose weight but also boost their metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and reverse some effects of ageing, a study claims. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Kyoto University in Japan identified 30 previously-unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a variety of health benefits.

"We have been researching ageing and metabolism for many years and decided to search for unknown health effects in human fasting," said Takayuki Teruya, first author of the paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"Contrary to the original expectation, it turned out that fasting induced metabolic activation rather actively," said Teruya.

The study presents an analysis of whole human blood, plasma, and red blood cells drawn from four fasting individuals. The researchers monitored changing levels of metabolites -- substances formed during the chemical processes that grant organisms energy and allow them to grow.

The results revealed 44 metabolites, including 30 that were previously unrecognised, that increased universally among subjects between 1.5- to 60-fold within just 58 hours of fasting.

In previous research, researchers identified various metabolites whose quantities decline with age, including three known as leucine, isoleucine, and ophthalmic acid.

In fasting individuals, these metabolites increase in level, suggesting a mechanism by which fasting could help increase longevity.