Flipping the Metabolic Switch: Understanding and Applying the Health Benefits of Fasting

OBJECTIVE: Intermittent fasting (IF) is a term used to describe a variety of eating patterns in which no or few calories are consumed for time periods that can range from 12 hours to several days, on a recurring basis. This review is focused on the physiological responses of major organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system, to the onset of the metabolic switch: the point of negative energy balance at which liver glycogen stores are depleted and fatty acids are mobilized (typically beyond 12 hours after cessation of food intake). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Emerging findings suggest that the metabolic switch from glucose to fatty acid-derived ketones represents an evolutionarily conserved trigger point…

• UO
  University of Florida

  Award: P30AG028740
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: P30AG028740
• NI
  National Institute on Aging

  Award: P30AG028740