Metabolic Syndrome can be prevented and treated by Intermittent Fasting and Caloric Restriction.
Scientific evidence:
Experimental type II diabetes and related models of impaired glucose metabolism differentially regulate glucose transporters at the proximal tubule brush border membrane. Havovi Chichger, Mark E. Cleasby, Surjit K. Srai, Robert J. Unwin, Edward S. Debnam, Joanne Marks. Experimental Physiology, 2016; DOI: 10.1113/EP085670. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP085670/full
Western diets have changed dramatically over the last 30 years, with a significant increase in consumption of calorie-dense processed foods. There is a general consensus that the rising prevalence of obesity, type II diabetes and its essential prerequisite, insulin resistance, is related to consumption of these processed and calorie-dense foods, rich in saturated fat and carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index (Bayol et al. 2005; Fulgoni, 2008). Diet-induced obesity is a major risk factor for development of the metabolic syndrome, a disorder characterized by impaired glucose tolerance, hyperuricaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypertension, and which is considered to be prediabetic (Aguilar-Salinas et al. 2005; Junien & Nathanielsz, 2007; AlSaraj et al. 2009). Increased consumption of saturated and trans-saturated fats and carbohydrates has also been shown to have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism and induce insulin resistance (Moeller et al. 2009). Consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose and saccharin, has also increased significantly in recent years (Mattes & Popkin, 2009; Yang, 2010). Interestingly, both experimental studies and meta-analyses have linked the consumption of artificial sweeteners with the development of glucose intolerance (Pepino et al. 2013; Suez et al. 2014). Therefore, the Western diet is likely to contribute to the development of insulin resistance and type II diabetes through disturbances in glucose homeostasis that are determined mainly by the composition of the diet.
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Effects of alternate fasting or very low calorie diet and low calorie diet on metabolic syndrome in severely obese patients. Tančić-Gajić M1, Vujović S, Vukčević M, Ivović M, Drezgić M, Marina L, Stojanović M, Arizanović Z, Nenezić A, Micić D. Hippokratia. 2012 Oct;16(4):335-41.
BACKGROUND AND AIM:
Weight loss improves the metabolic syndrome (MetS) features and related clinical abnormalities in obese subjects. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a non-surgical therapeutic program on the MetS in severely obese patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Sixty-four extremely obese patients were involved in the therapeutic program, which consisted of two alternating phases: the three-week therapeutic fasting or semi-fasting in hospital conditions and the low calorie diet with dosed physical activity in outpatient conditions. At the baseline we measured: anthropometric parameters, blood pressure and lipid profile. Subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and insulin resistance/sensitivity was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment and the oral glucose insulin sensitivity. After weight reduction by at least 10%, all mentioned assessments were repeated.
RESULTS:
None of the patients had significant adverse effects. Forty-one patients aged 43.0±11.5 years completed the study. The mean weight loss was 27 kg or 18% of the initial weight (p<0.01), which was followed by a significant decrease of the insulin resistance, the overall prevalence of MetS (32%) and all MetS parameters, without the significant change in high-density lipoprotein. This weight loss pogram substantially improves the MetS in extremely obese patients.
CONCLUSION:
The tailored alternating either fasting or semi- fasting should be considered as an optional approach to manage extreme obesity and related metabolic abnormality.
