A recent study revealed that intermittent fasting may not be suitable for children and adolescents due to its potential long-term negative effects on metabolism. The research findings showed that prolonged intermittent fasting disrupts the growth of beta cells responsible for insulin production in young mice.
Researchers compared these results with data from human tissue samples and found that individuals with type 1 diabetes exhibited similar impairments in beta cell maturation. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys beta cells, raising concerns about the potential negative impact of intermittent fasting on adolescent health.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital, and the Helmholtz Research Center in Munich, Germany. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports on January 18, and were also covered by EurekAlert.
The Impact of Intermittent Fasting on Mice
The study examined three groups of mice based on their ages: two months, eight months, and 24 months. The mice followed a diet regimen consisting of a full day of fasting (24 hours) followed by two days of unrestricted food access (48 hours), with continuous access to water.
After ten weeks, adult and older mice exhibited improved insulin sensitivity, indicating a better metabolic response. This is essential for regulating blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, the younger mice showed a significant decline in beta cell function, raising concerns as insufficient insulin production is a key factor in diabetes and metabolic disorders.
Risks of Fasting on Beta Cell Development
The researchers observed that beta cells in younger mice failed to mature properly. Peter Weber, a researcher at the Helmholtz Center in Munich, stated that “at a certain stage, the cells in young mice stopped developing and produced less insulin.” Older mice, however, were unaffected, as their beta cells had already matured before the fasting regimen began.
Stephan Herzig, a professor at the Technical University of Munich and director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at the Helmholtz Center, emphasized that “while intermittent fasting has proven benefits for adults, it may pose risks for children and adolescents.” He stressed the importance of further investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings. He added that “if researchers can better understand how to promote healthy beta cell growth, it could open new avenues for treating diabetes by restoring insulin production.”
