Scientists talked about changes in the brain and intestines during intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting promotes weight loss in obese adults, while causing coordinated changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria and brain activity. This was reported on May 31 by Science Daily magazine.

The study involved 25 obese volunteers with an average age of 27 years. They followed an interval energy restriction program for 62 days. In the first stage, participants consumed a quarter of their basic calorie needs, in the second 500 calories per day for women and 600 for men. By the end of the intervention, the subjects had lost an average of 7.6 kg, which was about 7.8% of their initial body weight.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists have recorded a decrease in activity in areas of the brain responsible for appetite and addictive behavior. At the same time, the number of bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Parabacteroides distasonis increased sharply in the intestines of the participants, while the content of E. coli decreased. According to co-author Yunli Li, an abnormal gut microbiome can alter eating behavior by affecting certain areas of the brain involved in addiction formation.

The analysis showed that the abundance of certain microbes is directly related to activity in the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus, an area responsible for executive function and willpower in weight loss. Other bacteria were positively associated with areas of the brain involved in attention, emotional regulation, and learning.

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According to the researchers, successful weight loss is a complex biological process that affects not only body fat, but also the system of interaction between the microbiome and the nervous system. Dr. Xiaoning Wang noted that the microbiome produces neurotransmitters that enter the brain through nerves and the bloodstream, while the brain controls eating habits by influencing the composition of bacteria.

Further studies, including a systematic review in 2024, confirm that intermittent fasting affects the diversity of microflora, but the exact mechanisms of this relationship require additional study. The scientists plan to find out exactly which regions of the brain and types of bacteria are critically important for maintaining a healthy weight in the long term.

On May 17, Science Daily reported on the dangers of prolonged fasting for the body. According to scientists, avoiding food for a long period of time not only contributes to changes in brain function, but also affects metabolism and the immune system. At the same time, it was emphasized that key molecular shifts begin only after three days of fasting.