There are more and more people who follow the intermittent fasting diet to improve their health, reducing their weight or citizen their cardiovascular health. However, it is possible that this option is not valid for all people, especially the youngest.
It is suggested by a study published in ‘Cell Reports‘That reveals that age plays a significant role in the effects of intermittent fasting.
German researchers have discovered that chronic intermittent fasting altered the development of beta cells insulin producers in young mice. These findings suggest possible risks to human beings, especially in adolescents.
«It is known that intermittent fasting is beneficial to improve metabolism and help in weight loss and cardiovascular health. However, until now its possible side effects were not well understood, ”says Alexander Bartelt, of the Munich Technical University.
In a recently published study, the team shows that intermittent fasting during adolescence could have long -term negative effects on metabolism. From the Technical University of Munich (Tum), the LMU hospital in Munich and Helmholtz Munich.
The researchers analyzed the effect of intermittent fasting on mice of different ages. After ten weeks, adults and elders improved their sensitivity to insulin, while adolescents showed a decrease in the function of their beta cells, reducing insulin production, a key factor in metabolism and diabetes.
«It is believed that intermittent fasting benefits beta cells, so We were surprised to discover that young mice produced less insulin After prolonged fasting, ”explains Leonardo Matta, one of the main authors of the study.
The researchers used advanced sequencing techniques to analyze the deterioration of beta cells in young mice and discovered that they did not mature correctly, which resulted in a lower insulin production. Instead, adult mice, whose beta cells were already fully developed before fasting, showed no alterations.
When comparing these findings with human fabrics data, the team found similarities with patients suffering from type 1 diabetesin whom beta cells have poor development due to an autoimmune response. This suggests that the effects observed in mice could also be relevant to humans.
According to researchers, these results reinforce the idea that, although intermittent fasting has metabolic benefits in adults, it could represent risks for children and adolescents. The next step will be to deepen the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon, which could open new opportunities to improve diabetes treatment and restore insulin production.
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