A Time to Fast

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2018 Nov 17

PMID 30442801

Citations 208

Authors

Andrea Di Francesco

Clara Di Germanio

Michel Bernier

Rafael de Cabo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Nutrient composition and caloric intake have traditionally been used to devise optimized diets for various phases of life. Adjustment of meal size and frequency have emerged as powerful tools to ameliorate and postpone the onset of disease and delay aging, whereas periods of fasting, with or without reduced energy intake, can have profound health benefits. The underlying physiological processes involve periodic shifts of metabolic fuel sources, promotion of repair mechanisms, and the optimization of energy utilization for cellular and organismal health. Future research endeavors should be directed to the integration of a balanced nutritious diet with controlled meal size and patterns and periods of fasting to develop better strategies to prevent, postpone, and treat the socioeconomical burden of chronic diseases associated with aging.

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