Immunomodulatory Effects of Fasting in Healthy Adults

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS · Nov 1, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of fasting on the immune system in healthy adults. Researchers want to see how a 36-hour period of drinking only water impacts the immune system, which helps our bodies fight off illnesses. They will look at blood samples and other measurements to understand these effects better.

To participate, you need to be a healthy male aged 20 to 40 years old, with a normal weight (between 120 lbs and a BMI of 19-27). You should also have stable blood sugar levels and be willing to fast for 36 hours. Participants will need to collect samples from their bowel movements for analysis and check their blood sugar levels during the fasting period. However, if you smoke, are pregnant, have certain health conditions, or take specific medications, you may not be eligible. This study is currently looking for volunteers, and your involvement could help scientists learn more about how fasting affects our health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age: 20-40 years, to constitute a young study population
• • Gender: male subjects, to control for gender differences
• • BMI: 19-27 kg/m2 to constitute a normal/healthy weight population
• • Weight: 120 lbs or more
• • Fasting glucose: 70-100 mg/dL, to ensure that fasting can be tolerated without inducing dangerously low levels of blood glucose
• • Subjects must be willing to undergo a period of 36 hours of water-only fasting
• • Subjects must be willing to collect samples of each bowel movement produced throughout the entire study period for microbiome analysis
• • Subjects must be willing to collect blood pricks for blood glucose levels using a Contour Next One Blood Glucose Testing Kit during the fasting stage of the study protocol.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current smoking
• • Anemia
• • Pregnancy or current breastfeeding
• • Chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, or previous cardiovascular events
• • Gastrointestinal diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease
• • Consumption of \>1 alcoholic drink/day
• • Extreme dietary or exercise patterns
• • Recent weight fluctuations (greater than 10% in the last six months)
• • Regular use of over-the-counter allergy or pain medications (\>1/week)
• • Taking prescription lipid medications (e.g. statins) or other supplements known to alter lipoprotein metabolism such as isoflavones
• • Use of hormonal birth control including oral contraception pills, hormonal IUDs or rings, or hormonal birth control patches