Can intermittent fasting repair the heart?
Various scientific studies have shown that intermittent fasting can not only help with weight loss, but also with health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Researchers now want to investigate whether this diet method can also be used to prevent cardiac insufficiency following a heart attack.
Intermittent fasting (also known as intermittent fasting) means going without food for days or hours, explains the German Society for Nutrition (DGE). Various health-promoting effects on the metabolism are attributed to the fasting form. A research team at the University Hospital Halle/Saale now wants to investigate whether intermittent fasting can lead to heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) can be prevented following a heart attack.
Not only suitable for losing weight
Intermittent fasting has been a trend for a long time. Like the German Heart Foundation in a recent Message writes, numerous studies have shown that this form of Fastens has various positive properties for health.
Intermittent fasting can not only help with weight loss, it also has a beneficial effect on heart diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In heart attack patients, it can therefore help to reduce the risk of another heart attack.
Researchers at the University Clinic for Cardiology in Halle an der Saale are now looking one step further. In their study “Intermittent fasting following myocardial infarction” (INTERFAST-MI), they are investigating whether intermittent fasting can also support the regeneration of the heart following a heart attack in order to avoid chronic heart failure.
An actual research video of the Heart Foundation presents the project on YouTube.
Changes in cell metabolism
“Intermittent fasting triggers changes in cell metabolism, which in turn show many similarities with precisely the cell programs that promote healing of the heart muscle and restoration of blood flow and the heart’s pumping function,” explains Prof. Dr. Daniel Sedding, Director of the University Clinic for Cardiology in Halle (Saale).
The scientist is leading the study together with Dr. Jochen Dutzmann, who adds that the INTERFAST-MI study is helping to clarify the extent to which intermittent fasting can be used to prevent renewed heart attacks and cardiac insufficiency “established as a new therapy component with few side effects”.
What are the effects of intermittent fasting on the body?
As explained in the communication, periods of fasting initiate a regeneration program that optimizes the body’s energy balance and activates protective mechanisms in the body’s cells. This process puts body cells into a kind of hibernation and in this way improves the immune system and healing mechanisms.
In addition, it starts a kind of clearing program (autophagy) in the cells and changes their metabolism. The cells then turn their attention to a more effective “super fuel” for the brain and muscles called ketone bodies.
“With our investigations, we want to clarify whether these processes during intermittent fasting can help to protect heart attack patients from heart failure,” says Dr. Dutzmann.
Prevent impending heart failure
And how might intermittent fasting prevent chronic heart failure? According to experts, during a heart attack, part of the heart muscle is cut off from the oxygen supply due to a blocked coronary artery (thrombus/blood clot). After the infarction, this part of the heart either goes into hibernation or even dies and becomes scarred.
As a result, the heart gradually loses power and heart failure can occur. When treating heart attack patients, it is therefore also important to restore the pumping function of the heart muscle as far as possible in order to prevent the impending heart failure.
This is where intermittent fasting and the fasting-induced “famine emergency program” might come into play, which sets in motion cellular programs that promote healing of the heart muscle and restoration of blood flow and pumping function.
The aim of the new study is to determine whether intermittent fasting might represent a non-drug, low-side effect approach to healing the heart muscle following a heart attack.
In further steps, it will then also be researched how intermittent fasting affects other consequences of the heart attack, such as the number of hospital admissions required, the development of secondary diseases or the occurrence of a new heart attack. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
