Using Intermittent Fasting As a Non-pharmacological Strategy to Alleviate Obesity-Induced Hypothalamic Molecular Pathway Disruption

Overview

Journal Front Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2022 Apr 21

PMID 35445066

Authors

Luciana da Costa Oliveira

Gustavo Paroschi Morais

Eduardo R Ropelle

Leandro P de Moura

Dennys E Cintra

Jose R Pauli

Ellen C DE Freitas

Rodrigo Rorato

Adelino Sanchez R da Silva

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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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