Intermittent fasting is more than just a dietary trend, a number of studies have found. You only eat at certain intervals. Depending on the method, fasting lasts between 16 and 24 hours or a maximum of 500 to 600 calories are consumed on two days within a week. This eating pattern has been linked to a number of health benefits, the last of which is a potential protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes. The results come from a study by the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).
Obesity is a known risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, but only some overweight people develop the disease. A number of factors are thought to play a role in this development, including excess fat in the pancreas. This is where the beta cells are produced, which release the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin.
The new study from the German Institute for Nutritional Research found that overweight mice prone to developing type 2 diabetes also had fatty deposits in the pancreas. In contrast, it was found that mice that were genetically resistant to type 2 diabetes had little fat in the pancreas but did have fat in the liver.
Researchers at the institute found that when these obese mice ate as much as they wanted, fat cells accumulated in the pancreas. In comparison, the second group that received an intermittent fasting regimen had almost no fatty deposits in their pancreas. One day the rodents were given unlimited food and the next day they were given nothing.
The best-known form of intermittent fasting is the 16:8 method, which involves eating for only eight hours during the day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. A meal – usually breakfast – is skipped. However, the team points to other methods that may be useful, such as: E.g. consuming no more than 600 calories over a 48-hour period per week.
Additional research found that fat cells in the pancreas appear to causeBeta cellsproduce too much insulin, disrupting blood sugar control. This increased production can destroy cells much more quickly over time, leading to dysfunction and eventual development of type 2 diabetes.
This discovery makes intermittent fasting a promising approach to preventing the development of type 2 diabetes, although it alone may not be enough.
