Metabolic Response to Daytime Dry Fasting in Bahá’í Volunteers—Results of a Preliminary Study

Abstract

Each year in March, adherents of the Bahá’í faith abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for 19 days. Thus, Bahá’í fasting (BF) can be considered as a form of daytime dry fasting. We investigated whether BF decreased energy expenditure after a meal and whether it improved anthropometric measures and systemic and tissue-level metabolic parameters. This was a self-controlled cohort study with 11 healthy men. We measured anthropometric parameters, metabolic markers in venous blood and pre- and postprandial energy metabolism at systemic (indirect calorimetry) and tissue (adipose tissue and skeletal muscle microdialysis) level, both before and during BF. During BF, we found reduced body weight, body mass index, body fat and blood glucose. Postprandial increase in energy expenditure was lower and diet-induced thermogenesis tended to be lower as well. In adipose tissue, perfusion, glucose supply and lipolysis were increased. In skeletal muscle, tissue perfusion did not change. Glucose supply and lipolysis were decreased. Glucose oxidation was increased, indicating improved insulin sensitivity. BF may be a promising approach to losing weight and improving metabolism and health. However, outside the context of religiously motivated fasting, skipping a meal in the evening (dinner cancelling) might be recommended, as metabolism appeared to be reduced in the evening.

Triangulation of Questionnaires, Qualitative Data and Natural Language Processing: A Differential Approach to Religious Bahá’í Fasting in Germany

“…In a laboratory study with a subsample of the one presented here, we were able to show that fluid balance remained stable in most individuals (Koppold-Liebscher et al, 2021), and fat metabolism was enhanced (Mähler et al, 2021). Studies have shown that religion and spirituality do influence health behaviours (Litalien et al, 2022).…”

“…Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to study entry and a detailed explanation of the main study design is found in our published study protocol (Koppold-Liebscher et al, 2021). The outcomes of the clinical and laboratory findings have been reported elsewhere (Koppold-Liebscher et al, 2021;Mähler et al, 2021), as have been the qualitative findings (Ring et al, 2022) and some quantitative findings (Demmrich et al, 2021).…”

The benefits of intermittent fasting: A review of possible mechanisms on central neurological disorders

“…Sleep disorder is a wide risk factor for the onset of mental illness. The Baha'i Fast (BF) is a religious fast of fasting and abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for 19 consecutive days every year in March (Mähler et al, 2021). Ring's research suggests that Bahá'í fasting appears to enhance participants' mindfulness and well-being, lower stress levels, and reduce fatigue.…”