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Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
Intermittent fasting in health and disease
Anubhav Mishra1, Devika Sobha1, Dimple Patel1
1School of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, Calicut, India.
Context:
Intermittent fasting, a new-age dietary concept derived from an age-old tradition, involves repetitive cycles of fasting/calorie restriction and eating.
Objective:
We aim to take a deep dive into the biological responses to intermittent fasting, delineate the disease-modifying and cognitive effects of intermittent fasting, and also shed light on the possible side effects.
Methods:
Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies were reviewed, followed by an in-depth analysis, and compilation of their implications in health and disease.
Results:
Intermittent fasting improves the body's stress tolerance, which is further amplified with exercise. It impacts various pathological conditions like cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Conclusion:
During dietary restriction, the human body experiences a metabolic switch due to the depletion of liver glycogen, which promotes a shift towards utilising fatty acids and ketones in the system, thereby significantly impacting adiposity, ageing and the immune response to various diseases.
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