Effects of fasting on the immune system function and its positive effects on the chemotherapy of various types of cancer

Fasting is one of the most basic religions in Islam. The body considers fasting as a stress and tries to cope with it through a path called self-regulating stress. The effects of fasting on various diseases and different physiological conditions have been evaluated and its positive effects have been shown in many diseases. The effects of fasting on the immune system of healthy people in general indicate the effect of fasting moderator on the chemokine network, oxidative stress and intrinsic and acquired immune system. Correspondingly, fasting reduces the pre-inflammatory cytokines, the chemokines, the antibodies, the CRP and the immune system cells, and increases IFN-γ, TNFα, iNOS, Endorphine and endocannabinoids. In addition, fasting does not have an effect on oxidative stress markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase levels. Fasting also has beneficial effects on autoimmune diseases and, in most cases, moderates the disease. Various studies have shown that fasting with chemotherapy can reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy without even reducing the anti-cancer effect of chemotherapy drugs, and even reduce the growth of some cancers in vitro. Although, chemotherapy with fasting is a better option for cancer treatment for prognosis, there are very precise clinical trials prior to using it as a standardized method. In this review article, we discuss the significance of fasting effects on various diseases and different physiological conditions and their physiological elements on the chemokine network, oxidative stress and intrinsic immune system in cancer development.