Animal Study Finds Intermittent Fasting Eases Chronic Pain via 1 Gut Bacterium

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27

Researchers reported in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity that intermittent fasting reduced chronic pain behaviors and improved cognition in animal models.
Zhengzhou University scientists linked the effect to stronger intestinal barriers and higher levels of Alistipes finegoldii, a gut bacterium that rose during fasting cycles.
Live A. finegoldii given to non-fasting animals produced similar gains, suggesting the microbe itself helped drive the pain and cognitive benefits.
Hippuric acid—made from compounds produced by the bacterium—suppressed the STING inflammatory pathway in the central nervous system, which the study tied to lower pain-related inflammation.
Animal-only evidence and wide variation in human responses mean clinical trials are still needed before fasting protocols can be recommended for chronic pain treatment.