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Fasting Mimicking Diet Once a Week May Reverse Diabetes

by Julia Samuel on Feb 24 2017 12:43 PM
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Highlights

  • Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD™) promotes the growth of new insulin-producing pancreatic cells and reduces symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in mice.
  • Genes normally //active in the developing pancreases of embryonic/fetal mice are reactivated in diabetic adult mice when cycling Fasting Mimicking Diets with normal diets.
  • This increases production of the protein neurogenin-3 (Ngn3) which promotes healthy insulin-producing beta cells.
A specific formulated Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD™) promotes the growth of new insulin-producing pancreatic cells and reduces symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in mice.
The study also examined pancreatic cell cultures from human type 1 diabetes patients, finding similar results.

FMD Reverses Diabetes

In type 1 and late-stage type 2 diabetes, the pancreas loses insulin-producing beta cells, increasing instability in blood sugar levels.

The study showed a remarkable reversal of diabetes in mice placed on the FMD for four days each week. They regained healthy insulin production, reduced insulin resistance, and demonstrated more stable levels of blood glucose even in the later stages of the disease.

Genes normally active in the developing pancreases of embryonic/fetal mice are reactivated in diabetic adult mice when cycling Fasting Mimicking Diets with normal diets.

This increases production of the protein neurogenin-3 (Ngn3) and, as a result, promotes the creation of new, healthy insulin-producing beta (β) cells.

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The researchers simulated type 1 diabetes in mice by administering high doses of the drug streptozotocin (STZ)-- killing the insulin-producing β-cells--and studied mice with type 2 diabetes.

The mice have a mutation in the gene Lepr which causes insulin resistance and eventual loss of insulin production. Both types of diabetes were reversed by FMD cycles.

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Researchers also examined pancreatic cell cultures from human donors and found that, in cells from type 1 diabetes patients, nutrients mimicking fasting also increased expression of the Ngn3 protein and insulin production. The results suggest that a Fasting Mimicking Diet could alleviate diabetes in humans.

"These findings warrant a larger FDA trial on the use of the Fasting Mimicking Diet to treat diabetes patients," Longo said.

"Hopefully, people with diabetes could one day be treated with an FDA-approved Fasting Mimicking Diet for a few days each month, eat a normal diet for the rest of the month, and see positive results in their ability to control their blood sugar by producing normal levels of insulin and improving insulin function."

What is FMD Diet?

Those on the special diet were required to eat food products supplied by the nutrition company L-Nutra during the fasting periods.

The diet, which was designed to mimic the results of a water-only fast, allows participants to consume between 750 and 1,100 calories per day. The diet is comprised of low-protein, low-carbohydrate, and high good fat ingredients to help the body protect and repair itself naturally, bringing long-term health benefits.

FMD Reduces Risk of Major Diseases

A growing body of evidence published by the Longevity Institute of the University of Southern California (USC) led by Professor Valter Longo indicates that the Fasting Mimicking Diet is beneficial.

  • A study published in Science Translational Medicine demonstrated that FMD reduced risks for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other age-related disease in human study participants who followed the FMD for just five days each month for three months.
  • The diet reduced cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, signs of inflammation (measured by C-reactive protein levels).
  • FMD also reduced waistlines and resulted in weight loss, both in total body fat and trunk fat, but not in muscle mass.
  • Prior studies on the diet have shown potential for alleviating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer treatments, and decreasing visceral fat.
Reference
  1. Valter Longo et al.,Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, Cell (2017) https://DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aai8700.


Source-Medindia


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