Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
08:06
Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
Published on: November 27, 2019
Exploratory Study on Plasticiser Intake During Intermittent Fasting: Effects on Weight, Glycaemic Control and Vitamin
Edwina Brennan1, Priya Das1, Pearl Wasif1
1School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Bahrain.
Toxics
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Intermittent fasting during Ramadan altered plasticizer metabolite levels, showing higher concentrations in type-2 diabetes (T2D) subjects compared to controls. Glycemic control (HbA1c) and vitamin D influenced these changes, not BMI.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular weight management strategy.
- The impact of IF on plasticizer intake, glycemic control in diabetes, and vitamin D levels remains unclear.
- This study investigates these effects in type-2 diabetic (T2D) and control subjects during Ramadan time-restricted feeding (TRF).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in plasticizer metabolite levels during Ramadan TRF.
- To evaluate the effects of TRF on glycemic control (HbA1c) and vitamin D levels in T2D patients and controls.
- To determine the influence of T2D, HbA1c, BMI, and vitamin D on plasticizer metabolite concentrations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 19 T2D subjects and 31 controls underwent Ramadan TRF.
- 24-hour urinary phthalate metabolites and serum vitamin D were measured pre- and post-TRF using LC-MS/MS.
- Anthropometric data and HbA1c were collected.
Main Results:
- T2D subjects had higher baseline age, BMI, body weight, and HbA1c compared to controls.
- Post-TRF, T2D subjects showed increased levels of certain phthalate metabolites (MiBP, MnBP, DEHP metabolites, MMP).
- Metabolite levels were influenced by HbA1c and vitamin D status, but not BMI.
Conclusions:
- Ramadan TRF is associated with alterations in plasticizer metabolite levels.
- T2D subjects exhibited higher estimated plasticizer metabolite levels compared to healthy controls.
- Glycemic control and vitamin D status play a role in modulating these metabolite levels.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
01:19Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
01:24Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
01:25Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in early stages.Clinical ManifestationsWhen symptoms appear, they include fatigue, blurred vision, pruritus, delayed wound healing, and recurrent infections, particularly candidal infections. Peripheral neuropathy may present as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Classic hyperglycemia symptoms—polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia—are less common. Most patients are overweight and frequently have associated hypertension...
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...