There is a recent surge in popularity in intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is defined as the abstinence from all or some foods or drinks for a set period. However, there are various methods of intermittent fasting which confers different clinical benefits. Fasting may confer weight loss and metabolic benefits such as sustaining healthy lipid profile levels, blood pressure, and blood glucose level. With the increased prevalence of obesity, many patients may be good candidates for the practice of intermittent fasting. Most previous studies published on metabolic benefits of intermittent fasting were mainly animal-based. Only within the past 5-10 years have robust human clinical trials data been made available. For healthcare providers, it is important to counsel your patients on whether they are candidates for fasting and monitor their health safety.

Learning Objectives
• Evaluate aging, healthspan, and the biological pathways linked to the development of chronic diseases
• Integrate diet, nutrition, and lifestyle in healthy aging
• Compare the impact of fasting and fasting-mimicking diet on longevity, cellular regeneration, autophagy, metabolic profile, and reversal of autoimmunity.

How do we know this is a problem?
Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease – Science Translational Medicine (2017)
Fasting-Mimicking Diet Promotes Ngn3-Driven β-Cell Regeneration to Reverse Diabetes – Cell Press (2017)