By Manasi Talwadekar
Source Medscape
OPLINE:
Monthly cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) may slow metabolic and immune system aging and reduce the risk for metabolic disease.
METHODOLOGY:
- In two clinical trials, monthly 5-day cycles of an FMD (a proprietary line of plant-based, low-calorie, and low-protein food products) showed lower body weight, body fat, and blood pressure at 3 months.
- Researchers assessed secondary outcomes for the impact of the diet on risk factors for metabolic syndrome and biomarkers associated with aging and age-related diseases.
- This study looked at data from nearly half of the original 184 participants (aged 18-70 years) from the two clinical trials who went through three to four monthly cycles, adhering to 5 days of an FMD in either a crossover design compared with a normal diet or an intervention group compared to people following a Mediterranean diet.