New Study: Fasting Induces Immune System Regeneration

sugarandspice27

Out of the University of Southern California 2 weeks ago.

https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/

Text: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system
Protection from chemotherapy immunosuppression indicates effect could be conserved in humans
Wu_Suzanneby Suzanne Wu
June 5, 2014

Researcher Valter Longo at work Corresponding author Valter Longo (USC Photo/Dietmar Quistorf)
In the first evidence of a natural intervention triggering stem cell-based regeneration of an organ or system, a study in the June 5 issue of the Cell Stem Cell shows that cycles of prolonged fasting not only protect against immune system damage — a major side effect of chemotherapy — but also induce immune system regeneration, shifting stem cells from a dormant state to a state of self-renewal.

In both mice and a Phase 1 human clinical trial involving patients receiving chemotherapy, long periods of not eating significantly lowered white blood cell counts. In mice, fasting cycles then “flipped a regenerative switch,” changing the signaling pathways for hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for the generation of blood and immune systems, the research showed.

We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic system.
Valter Longo

The study has major implications for healthier aging, in which immune system decline contributes to increased susceptibility to disease as people age. By outlining how prolonged fasting cycles — periods of no food for two to four days at a time over the course of six months — kill older and damaged immune cells and generate new ones, the research also has implications for chemotherapy tolerance and for those with a wide range of immune system deficiencies, including autoimmunity disorders.

“We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic system,” said corresponding author Valter Longo, Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the USC Davis School of Gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute. Longo has a joint appointment at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

“When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Longo said. “What we started noticing in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. So we started thinking, well, where does it come from?”

Fasting cycles
Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose, fat and ketones, but it also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells. Longo likens the effect to lightening a plane of excess cargo.

During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells. In particular, prolonged fasting reduced the enzyme PKA, an effect previously discovered by the Longo team to extend longevity in simple organisms and which has been linked in other research to the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency — that is, the potential for one cell to develop into many different cell types. Prolonged fasting also lowered levels of IGF-1, a growth-factor hormone that Longo and others have linked to aging, tumor progression and cancer risk.

“PKA is the key gene that needs to shut down in order for these stem cells to switch into regenerative mode. It gives the OK for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” explained Longo, noting the potential of clinical applications that mimic the effects of prolonged fasting to rejuvenate the immune system. “And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting. Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”

Prolonged fasting also protected against toxicity in a pilot clinical trial in which a small group of patients fasted for a 72-hour period prior to chemotherapy, extending Longo’s influential past research.

“While chemotherapy saves lives, it causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. The results of this study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy,” said co-author Tanya Dorff, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital. “More clinical studies are needed, and any such dietary intervention should be undertaken only under the guidance of a physician.”

“We are investigating the possibility that these effects are applicable to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system,” said Longo, whose lab is in the process of conducting further research on controlled dietary interventions and stem cell regeneration in both animal and clinical studies.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Aging of the National Institutes of Health (grant numbers AG20642, AG025135, P01AG34906). The clinical trial was supported by the V Foundation and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (P30CA014089).

Chia Wei-Cheng of USC Davis was first author of the study. Gregor Adams, Xiaoying Zhou and Ben Lam of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC; Laura Perin and Stefano Da Sacco of the Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; Min Wei of USC Davis; Mario Mirisola of the University of Palermo; Dorff and David Quinn of the Keck School of Medicine of USC; and John Kopchick of Ohio University were co-authors of the study.

bcattoes

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

MalayanTiger

As someone who is overweight and dealing with an autoimmune disorder, I find these articles interesting. Thanks for the link!

smn76237

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

Meerataila

Interesting. Two to four days is sadly far longer than the current trends. Not only that, but it sounds like it's %100 fasting, as opposed to the common forms that call a day of 400-600 calories 'fasting'.

sugarandspice27

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

Since when is overall health and wellness not associated with fitness? smh

bcattoes

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

smn76237

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

bcattoes

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

Like I said. I belive you are misinterpreting the results.

smn76237

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

Like I said. I belive you are misinterpreting the results.

Lol ok then. Thank you for your non contribution to this topic.

bcattoes

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

Like I said. I belive you are misinterpreting the results.

Lol ok then. Thank you for your non contribution to this topic.

The study says nothing at all about improving overall health or fitness. Nothing. It doesn't say doing this won't slow your metabolism, it does not say doing it won't cause muscle or bone loss. It doesn't say it will make any well person more healthy.

toledocheer

Awesome study- Longo is speaking at a webinar on Wednesday July 23, 2014 on Nutrient Availability & Stem Cells- will be discussing this paper. Link: http://view6.workcast.net/register?pak=4741728221697545

dbmata

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

I wonder why it wasn't in Cell, and went to a lower tier journal. If the science is good, this is content for a top tier journal I'd think.

BigT555

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

Like I said. I belive you are misinterpreting the results.

Lol ok then. Thank you for your non contribution to this topic.

The study says nothing at all about improving overall health or fitness. Nothing. It doesn't say doing this won't slow your metabolism, it does not say doing it won't cause muscle or bone loss. It doesn't say it will make any well person more healthy.

immune system function has nothing to do with overall health?

stealthq

That's a pretty interesting study, but not sure what it has to do with fitness.

I'd say it hits on food, nutrition, and health. It's particularly relevant when people around here are always talking about how "starvation mode" will shut down their metabolism, or they *need* to eat breakfast to "jumpstart" their metabolism. When, yet another study reflects that fasting is beneficial for health.

This study is pretty unrelated to that. This has health benefits for the immune system, but that does not mean it is without side effects or that 2-4 days of fasting regularly would provide health benefits for the average person.

It is a very interesting study but I think you are misinterpreting the results.

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm interpreting. No, I don't think this is related to dieting or fitness, or that people should be employing 3 days of fasting in their every day life. But it's an example that fasting does not equal bad. In fact, fasting equals good under the parameters of this study. Health=a topic of this site. This study=fasting has positive impact on health. Therefore, relevant.

Like I said. I belive you are misinterpreting the results.

Lol ok then. Thank you for your non contribution to this topic.

The study says nothing at all about improving overall health or fitness. Nothing. It doesn't say doing this won't slow your metabolism, it does not say doing it won't cause muscle or bone loss. It doesn't say it will make any well person more healthy.

immune system function has nothing to do with overall health?

Of course it does. I believe the point they are making is that if your immune system is already fine, fasting may not benefit you in that regard at all - and may have negative effects as far as metabolism, muscle retention, bone retention, etc.

Basically, if it ain't broke, 'fixing' it doesn't do you any good.

BigT555

Of course it does. I believe the point they are making is that if your immune system is already fine, fasting may not benefit you in that regard at all - and may have negative effects as far as metabolism, muscle retention, bone retention, etc.

Basically, if it ain't broke, 'fixing' it doesn't do you any good.

i understand that but to say that it has nothing to do with overall health and fitness is just blatantly incorrect, thats all i was getting at. i think fasting purely for immune system improvement probably isnt the best idea but this article has its place here

AshwinA7

Maybe I missed it but what definition of fasting were they operating under?

How many calories were the mice eating on an average day? Or was it absolutely no food and water for 2-4 days?

stealthq

Of course it does. I believe the point they are making is that if your immune system is already fine, fasting may not benefit you in that regard at all - and may have negative effects as far as metabolism, muscle retention, bone retention, etc.

Basically, if it ain't broke, 'fixing' it doesn't do you any good.

i understand that but to say that it has nothing to do with overall health and fitness is just blatantly incorrect, thats all i was getting at. i think fasting purely for immune system improvement probably isnt the best idea but this article has its place here

Given how people tend to pick this kind of thing up and just run with it without reading the fine print ... I would argue that while it would have a place on a cancer website, or in a thread about cancer, cancer treatments, or mice , it doesn't have a place in a general health forum. Especially not until the effects on healthy individuals are known.

stealthq

Maybe I missed it but what definition of fasting were they operating under?

How many calories were the mice eating on an average day? Or was it absolutely no food and water for 2-4 days?

I read the paper several weeks ago - maybe even a month, but I believe that the cancer patients had no food, but were allowed water, for 72 hours. I can't remember what they did for the mouse trial.

bunnylion

Of course it does. I believe the point they are making is that if your immune system is already fine, fasting may not benefit you in that regard at all - and may have negative effects as far as metabolism, muscle retention, bone retention, etc.

Basically, if it ain't broke, 'fixing' it doesn't do you any good.

i understand that but to say that it has nothing to do with overall health and fitness is just blatantly incorrect, thats all i was getting at. i think fasting purely for immune system improvement probably isnt the best idea but this article has its place here

Given how people tend to pick this kind of thing up and just run with it without reading the fine print ... I would argue that while it would have a place on a cancer website, or in a thread about cancer, cancer treatments, or mice , it doesn't have a place in a general health forum. Especially not until the effects on healthy individuals are known.

You're right in that people tend to interpret studies like this out of context. But what do you mean by "Especially not until the effects on healthy individuals are known."? The effects of water fasting on healthy individuals are well known. Fasting is not a new thing, you know?

This certainly isn't an article relevant for everyone but for some people it might be. MFP is a rather large forum with a niche for a whole lot of people with a whole lot of quirks ;-) :flowerforyou: