Effect of Short-Term Modified Alternate-Day Fasting on the Lipid Metabolism in Obese Women

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a worldwide health problem, with increasing prevalence associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. Decrease in energy intake has been shown to lower the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in obese. The common form of dietary restriction is daily calorie restriction (CR). Another form is alternate-day fasting (ADF). The ability of modified ADF to facilitate weight loss and lower cardiovascular risk factors has not been tested. This study examined the effects of combination CR and ADF in obese adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 female obese inpatients completed a 4 week trial of controlled food intake during modified ADF period. All subjects consumed very low calorie diet on the fast day and then consumed diet including 1600 - 1700 Kcal in every other day. Body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) were measured daily. Fasting blood samples were collected at the first and 29th day of trial for biochemical analysis. RESULTS: During the course of the trial (4 wk), BW of the subjects decreased (P < 0.0001) from 96.87 ± 21.34 kg to 92.16 ± 19.85 kg. Mean BMI of the subjects at baseline was 37.38 ± 7.35 kg/m2, at the end of course decreased (P < 0.0001) to 35.56 ± 6.78 kg/m2. Systolic BP decreased (P < 0.0001) from 142 ± 13 to 122 ± 12mm Hg. Total cholesterol decreased (P < 0.0001) from 6.12 ± 1.1 to 5.42 ± 1 mmol/L , LDL (P <0.0001) from 3.99 ± 0.96 to 3.34 ± 0.87 mmol/L, fasting blood sugar (P < 0.0001) from 5.87 ± 1 to 5.23 ± 0.9 mmol/L, whereas change in triacylglycerol concentrations was not significant, HDL decreased (P < 0.005) from 1.43 ± 0.38 to 1.3 ± 0.31 mmol/L . CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that short time CR plus ADF is a viable dietary option to help obese individuals lose weight and decrease systemic blood pressure and some CAD risk factors. More and longer-term studies in human subjects are needed to support this important result.