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Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
Using Intermittent Fasting as a Non-pharmacological Strategy to Alleviate Obesity-Induced Hypothalamic Molecular
Luciana da Costa Oliveira1, Gustavo Paroschi Morais1, Eduardo R Ropelle2
1Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular intervention used to fight overweight/obesity. This condition is accompanied by hypothalamic inflammation, limiting the proper signaling of molecular pathways, with consequent dysregulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. This mini-review explored the therapeutic modulation potential of IF regarding the disruption of these molecular pathways. IF seems to modulate inflammatory pathways in the brain, which may also be correlated with the brain-microbiota axis, improving hypothalamic signaling of leptin and insulin, and inducing the autophagic pathway in hypothalamic neurons, contributing to weight loss in obesity. Evidence also suggests that when an IF protocol is performed without respecting the circadian cycle, it can lead to dysregulation in the expression of circadian cycle regulatory genes, with potential health damage. In conclusion, IF may have the potential to be an adjuvant treatment to improve the reestablishment of hypothalamic responses in obesity.
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