Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Research and Studies Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Faculty of Biotechnology, Badr University in Assiut, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.
2
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Institute of Drug Research, Innovation and Development Research, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
3
Department of Animal Hygiene & Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
4
Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
5
Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut71526, Egypt.
6
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
Abstract
Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that restricts food and energy intake for a specific time. Research has demonstrated that various IF eating patterns offer health advantages, such as weight reduction, enhanced metabolism, and decreased inflammation. The aim is to further our understanding of how IF patterns affect weight gain, regulate metabolism, and change fat deposition and gene expression in adipose tissue depots in animal models. We examined the effect of two 15-week IF regimens (time-restricted feeding (TRF), 6 hr of feeding and 18 hr of fasting every day, and alternate-day fasting (ADF), alternating between 24 hr of feeding and 24 hr of fasting). A normal-chow diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) was used. Weight, caloric consumption, and blood glucose level in fasted mice were monitored. Cumulative blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, histology, and gene expression in adipose tissue were determined at the end. The level of gene expression of Uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP-1) was examined in adipose tissues to determine effects of IF patterns on energy expenditure. Our results indicate that during the tested time, the ADF pattern of IF was more efficient compared to the TRF pattern in terms of weight control and can reverse the effects of HDF. IF significantly reduced food consumption and increased the level of the UCP-1 gene in adipocytes. IF is an effective method of controlling weight gain and reversing the HFD effects. A long-term genetic change may be responsible for controlling obesity and improving energy expenditure.
Keywords
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