Cambridge: A new study suggests that fasting may help in potentially avoiding Alzheimer's. According to scientists affiliated with Cambridge University, the latest research indicates that fasting can reduce inflammation occurring within the body.
Inflammation is a natural response to infection or injury in the body. However, the quality of chronic inflammation (the kind that expels cells causing inflammation without any apparent reason) is linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Type 2 diabetes.
In a new study published in the Journal of Cell Reports, Cambridge researchers examined nearly two dozen individuals who had only consumed water for up to 24 hours.
Participants had a breakfast of 500 calories before 8 a.m. and then remained on a fast for 24 hours, during which they were only allowed to drink water. After this period, they were given a 500-calorie breakfast the next day.
Before and after their fast, blood samples were taken at the end of the 24 hours and after having breakfast the next day.
The results showed a rapid increase in a substance called eicosapentaenoic acid (which stores energy and facilitates the exchange of information between cells) in one day. However, as soon as these individuals ate again, a decrease in the level of eicosapentaenoic acid was observed.
In the experiments, a higher amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was found to reduce the activity of inflammation-causing NLRP3 cells. These cells are deeply linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In this way, fasting was found to reduce inflammation in the body.