Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss: Impact on Brain and Gut Health
A team of researchers has made a significant discovery in addressing the global obesity crisis. A recent study indicates that intermittent calorie restriction can lead to notable changes in both brain and gut health, potentially providing new strategies for weight management.
The findings were published on "Science Alert," based on research from the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
The study involved 25 volunteers classified as obese, who participated in a 62-day intermittent energy restriction program, which carefully monitored calorie intake and included fasting on certain days.
The results revealed that participants lost an average of 7.6 kilograms, approximately 7.8% of their body weight, alongside observable changes in brain activity linked to obesity and alterations in gut microbiota.
* Brain, Gut, and Microbiome Connections
Researcher Chiang Tseng from the Second Medical Center and the National Clinical Research Center for Aging-Related Diseases in China stated:
"A low-calorie diet has been shown to alter the brain-gut-microbiome axis in humans."
He noted that changes in gut microbiota and brain activity associated with addiction were dynamic and interconnected over time, as observed through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in areas regulating appetite and behavior, including the inferior frontal gyrus.
Additionally, changes in gut microbiota, analyzed through stool samples and blood measurements, were linked to specific brain regions. For instance, the bacteria Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii were negatively associated with activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus, a region responsible for self-control in eating.
Researcher Xiaoning Wang commented:
"The gut microbiome communicates with the brain in a complex, bidirectional manner, where the intestines produce neurotransmitters and toxins that reach the brain, while the brain regulates eating behavior, and nutrients influence microbiome composition."
* Addressing Global Obesity
Statistics indicate that over one billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, increasing the risk of serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
According to biomedical biologist Liming Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences:
"The next challenge is to understand the precise mechanisms of communication between the gut microbiome and the brain during weight loss, and to identify the most critical areas for successful weight loss and maintenance of a healthy weight."
Understanding the intricate relationship between the brain and gut may pave the way for developing effective dietary solutions to combat obesity more safely and successfully.
