Alternate‐day fasting diet improves fructose‐induced insulin resistance in mice

Abstract

Increased fructose consumption is linked to insulin resistance, weight gain, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Although the advantages of several dietary restriction regimens have been demonstrated, the effects of alternate-day fasting (ADF) on fructose-induced insulin resistance have not yet been studied. This study is based on a new modification on ADF by combining the fructose-rich solution (10% w/v) and regular mice diet. Mice were randomly allocated into four groups: ADF50% (50% restriction in chow food intake but ad libitum fructose drink), ADF100% (100% restriction for chow food but ad libitum fructose drink), control (ad libitum chow food intake plus tap water) and daily food and fructose (DFF) (had free access to both chow and fructose solution). Biweekly fasting blood sugar (FBS), glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were conducted. All groups gained weight during the study (p < 0.05). Body weights of DFF and control groups did not differ from that of ADF groups, but ADF50% gained more (p < 0.01) weights than ADF100% through the study. Total calorie intake (feed + fast days) of ADF50% was higher than that of ADF100% (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.03). In addition, ADF groups consumed more energy than the control and DFF groups in feed (ad libitum) days (p < 0.05). At the end of the study, the mean FBS levels in the control and ADF100% groups were similar and significantly lower in relation to that of DFF and ADF50% groups (p < 0.01). Measurements of area under the curve in GTT and ITT revealed that the ADF100% group was more insulin-sensitive than the DFF and ADF50% groups. In conclusion, these data suggest that the ADF100% improves fructose-induced insulin resistance in mice.

Alternate-day feeding leads to improved glucose regulation on fasting days without significant weight loss in genetically obese mice

“…These mice doubled their intake on fed days; thus they were not "calorically restricted" over the experimental period. As a result, the control mice in the current study did not lose weight on the ADF protocol over a 19-day period, similar to others' findings of a lack of weight loss in normal mice (2,3,28,30), although some studies show some weight loss (or lack of weight gain) in normal mice (8,12). The ADF control mice outweighed their ad libitum counterparts at the end of a fed day.…”

“…Monogenetic rodent models of obesity can help elucidate whether individual genes can play a role in the response to an intervention such as the ADF regimen. While it is unclear whether ADF influences body weight in normal-weight rodents (2,3,12,26,28), ADF reduces body weight in a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model (17). Furthermore, the changes induced by ADF in rodent models of DIO mimic those in humans, as this intervention lowers plasma triacylglycerols and total cholesterol, reduces liver steatosis, increases insulin sensitivity, and decreases cell proliferation in rodents (8,17,20,30).…”

Early Life Stress Induced by Limited Nesting Material Produces Metabolic Resilience in Response to a High-Fat and High-Sugar Diet in Male Rats

“…The underlying mechanism as to why LN exposure improved insulin sensitivity and lowered insulin response in response to HFHS is unclear. There are other physiological stressors, such as dietary restriction, that are known to improve insulin sensitivity across many species ( 25 , 26 ). The fact that LN rats were lighter at weaning means that this model had some features that coincided with mild dietary restriction.…”

A weekly alternating diet between caloric restriction and medium fat protects the liver from fatty liver development in middle-aged C57BL/6J mice

“…Various forms of alternating dietary intervention have been explored, such as alternate‐day fasting, intermittent fasting, intermittent starvation, and every‐other‐day feeding. The results are promising, the health benefits of the different alternative regimens are similar to continuous exposure to CR, including improved glucose tolerance and decreased cardiovascular disease risk . Consequently, the application of an alternating dietary regimen as a preventive measurement against the development of NAFLD becomes of interest.…”