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Updated: May 14, 2026
08:06
Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
Fasting and re-feeding independently alter mouse gut microbiota during intermittent fasting
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Intermittent fasting (IF) causes daily gut microbiome shifts. Refeeding periods, not just fasting, rapidly expand beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, contributing to IF
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolism
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Intermittent fasting (IF) offers metabolic advantages, partly mediated by the gut microbiome.
- Previous research focused on long-term IF effects, neglecting daily microbiome fluctuations.
- The impact of IF's oscillating nature on gut microbiota dynamics remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate short-term and long-term impacts of IF on gut microbiota composition.
- To investigate daily changes in the gut microbiome during IF protocols.
- To understand how fasting and refeeding cycles influence microbial dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Mice were subjected to alternate-day (IF1:1) or every-two-day (IF1:2) fasting regimens.
- Daily measurements included body mass, composition, food intake, and gut microbiota analysis.
- Microbiota composition was assessed daily to capture dynamic shifts.
Main Results:
- Short-term effects of fasting and refeeding cycles significantly altered gut microbiota composition.
- Microbiota responses differed distinctly between fasting and refeeding periods.
- Refeeding induced a rapid increase in Lactobacillus, a genus associated with IF's metabolic benefits.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiota exhibits high plasticity, particularly in response to refeeding during IF.
- Dynamic changes, especially during refeeding, are crucial for microbiome-mediated metabolic benefits of IF.
- Understanding these daily fluctuations is key to harnessing IF's full health potential.
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