Periodic fasting is a dietary technique that involves alternating periods of eating and fasting. It does not restrict specific foods, however rather concentrates on when to eat them. Some typical approaches of periodic fasting consist of the 16/8 method, where individuals quickly for 16 hours and consume throughout an 8-hour window, and the 5:2 approach, where people eat typically for 5 days and restrict calorie intake to 500-600 calories for 2 non-consecutive days.
According to a new study from the University of East Anglia, time-restricted fasting diet plans may result in fertility concerns. The research study, released on April 12th, 2023, exposes that time-restricted fasting has differing effect on recreation in male and female zebrafish.
Notably, the study found that a few of the unfavorable impacts on egg and sperm quality continue even after the fish resumed their regular eating practices.
The research study team says that while the study was conducted in fish, their findings highlight the importance of thinking about not just the impact of fasting on weight and health, however also on fertility.
Periodic fasting is a dietary technique that involves rotating periods of eating and fasting. It does not restrict particular foods, but rather focuses on when to consume them. Some common techniques of intermittent fasting include the 16/8 method, where people quickly for 16 hours and consume during an 8-hour window, and the 5:2 method, where individuals consume normally for 5 days and restrict calorie consumption to 500-600 calories for 2 non-consecutive days.
Dr. Edward Ivimey-Cook, from UEAs School of Biological Sciences, stated: “What we found is that time-restricted fasting impacts reproduction differently in females and males.
Prof Alexei Maklakov, from UEAs School of Biological Sciences, stated: “Time-restricted fasting is an eating pattern where people limit their food usage to certain hours of the day. Its a popular fitness pattern and individuals are doing it to lose weight and enhance their health.
” But the method organisms react to food scarcities can impact the quality of eggs and sperm, and such results might possibly continue after the end of the fasting period.
” We desired to find out more about how these sorts of diet plans can impact fertility in a popular design organism.”
When individuals are exposed to food throughout and after a duration of fasting, the research team studied zebrafish (Danio rerio) to discover out what happens. They determined how males and women designate resources to body maintenance versus the production and upkeep of sperm and eggs, and the quality of the resulting offspring.
Dr. Edward Ivimey-Cook, from UEAs School of Biological Sciences, said: “What we discovered is that time-restricted fasting affects reproduction differently in males and females. Once the fish went back to their regular feeding schedule, women increased the variety of offspring they produced at the expense of egg quality leading to minimized quality of offspring. The quality of male sperm likewise decreased.
” These findings underscore the value of considering not simply the impact of fasting on body upkeep but likewise on the production of eggs and sperm.
” Importantly, some of the negative impacts on eggs and sperm quality can be seen after the animals returned to their normal levels of food consumption following time-restricted fasting.
” More research study is required to comprehend how long it considers sperm and egg quality to return back to normal after the period of fasting.”
Referral: “Fasting increases financial investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish” by Edward R. Ivimey-Cook, David S. Murray, Jean-Charles de Coriolis, Nathan Edden, Simone Immler and Alexei A. Maklakov, 12 April 2023, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.DOI: 10.1098/ rspb.2022.1556.
This research study was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with researchers at the Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
The study was funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).