Scientists Map 3,000 Blood Proteins in 7-Day Fast, Finding Major Shifts After Day 3
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 5
Scientists Map 3,000 Blood Proteins in 7-Day Fast, Finding Major Shifts After Day 3
3 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 5
Summary
Twelve healthy volunteers on a seven-day water-only fast showed the biggest body-wide molecular changes only after about three days without calories, according to a Nature Metabolism study.
Researchers tracked roughly 3,000 blood proteins and found about one-third changed significantly, with signals tied to all major organs and effects not explained by weight loss alone.
Participants lost an average 5.7 kilograms as the body switched from glucose to stored fat in the first two to three days; three days after refeeding, most lean mass had returned while fat loss remained.
The protein shifts included markers linked to neuronal structural support, suggesting prolonged fasting affects broader biological pathways than fat metabolism.
The findings could help researchers design treatments that mimic fasting's potentially beneficial effects for patients who cannot safely undergo prolonged fasting.