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Physiological and Sensory Responses to Prolonged Fasting in Humans

Physiological and Sensory Responses to Prolonged Fasting in Humans

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05977569
Acronym
PRO-FAST
Enrollment
7
Registered
2023-08-04
Start date
2021-06-28
Completion date
2024-05-30
Last updated
2023-08-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Adiposity, Energy Supply; Deficiency, Fasting, Metabolic Disturbance

Brief summary

This study aims to establish the metabolic/molecular response in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle as well as sensory experiences (pain, fatigue, drive) to prolonged fasting of 3 days duration. Participants will undergo sequential meal assessment before and after a 3 day fast with measures taken throughout each fasting day.

Detailed description

This study will employ a single-arm, non-randomised design in which participants will act as their own control prior to undergoing 3 days of fasting. The control phase includes 3 days of habitual energy balance assessment before coming into the laboratory for baseline meal testing with blood, muscle, and adipose samples as well as anthropometric assessment. Participants will then be provided with a standardised lunch to be consumed around midday and a standardised dinner to be consumed at 2000 h. Participants will then be asked to refrain from caloric intake for 3 days until they return to the laboratory for follow up measures. Participants will be provided with monitoring equipment throughout the 3 days of fasting and will be asked to provide a blood sample at 0800 h each day alongside self recording of blood pressure, weight, and urinary ketones each day. On the middle day (day 2) participants will also be asked to come into the lab to provide a blood sample at 2000 h. The follow up visit will be identical to that performed before the fast, including meal testing, blood, muscle, and adipose samples.

Interventions

Participants are asked to refrain from caloric intake for 3 days following a period of habitual lifestyle assessment and metabolic assessment.

Sponsors

University of Nottingham
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Bath
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* • Body mass index 20.0-29.9 kg∙m-2 * Age 18-45 years * Willing to abstain from food intake for just over 3 days (\ 82 hours) * Able and willing to provide informed consent and safely comply with study procedures * Females to maintain record of regular menstrual cycle phase or contraceptive use * No anticipated changes in lifestyle during the study (e.g. holidays or exercise programmes)

Exclusion criteria

* • Any reported condition or behaviour deemed either to pose undue personal risk to the participant or introduce bias * Any diagnosed metabolic disease (e.g. type 1 or type 2 diabetes) * Any reported use of substances which may pose undue personal risk to the participants or introduce bias into the experiment * Pregnancy * Breastfeeding * Lifestyle not conforming to standard sleep-wake cycle (e.g. shift worker) * History of eating disorders (e.g. anorexia) * Any reported recent (\<6 months) change in body mass (± 3%) * Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism * Advanced cerebrovascular insufficiency or dementia * Advanced liver or kidney insufficiency * History of migraine and or headache * Psychotic disorders * Unstable or severe coronary artery disease * Retinal detachment * Duodenal or stomach ulcer * Cancer and malignant disease * Regular use of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) * Use of Systemic corticoids * Use of Antihypertensives (especially beta-blockers and diuretics) * Use of Antidiabetics * Use of Anti-coagulants * Use of Psychotropics (especially neuroleptics and lithium) * Use of Anticonvulsants.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in postprandial insulin responses3 daysChange in postprandial insulin (mmol/L) response to a standardised meal before and after 3 days of fasting.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in ketosis.1 day, 2 days, 3 days.Change in urinary (acetoacetate) ketones in response to prolonged fasting.
Change in body mass1 day, 2 days, 3 days.Change in body mass, pre-post, and during the prolonged fast.
Change in blood pressure1 day, 2 days, 3 days.Change in blood pressure pre-, post-, and during the prolonged fast
Change in circulating glycerol and non-esterified fatty acids1 day, 2 days, 3 daysChange in indices of lipolysis from adipose tissue in response to prolonged fasting (Glycerol mmol/L; NEFA mmol/L)
Change in plasma pyruvate1 day, 2 days, 3 daysChange in plasma pyruvate in response to prolonged fasting (indices of Cori cycle)
Change in plasma lactate1 day, 2 days, 3 daysChange in plasma lactate in response to prolonged fasting (indices of Cori cycle)
Change in interstitial fluid glucose concentrations1 day, 2 days, 3 days.Change in interstitial fluid glucose concentrations pre-, post-, and during the prolonged fast (assessed via continual glucose monitoring)
Change in amino acid metabolism3 days.Change in amino acid metabolism (i.e. BCAAs and ketoacids) in skeletal muscle
Change in postprandial glucose responses.3 days.Change in postprandial glucose (mmol/L) response to a standardised meal before and after 3 days of fasting.
Change in Autophagy3 daysChange in autophagic flux in response to prolonged fasting, assessed in skeletal muscle and circulating neutrophils.

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026