Research on intermittent fasting

1
Running Header: Intermittent Fasting: An Exploratory Research Study
2
Intermittent Fasting: An Exploratory Research Study
Intermittent Fasting: An Exploratory Research Study
Intermittent Fasting: An Exploratory Research Study
Introduction & Research Background
Intermittent fasting refers to periodical abstinence of voluntary nature from that of food as well as drink. The same has been followed as practice starting from earliest periods by people across globe. Various books focused on ethnology as well as religion present wide-ranging fasting forms as well as practices. There is growing interest over fasting regimens as has been evidenced from its discussion and proposals across journal papers, popular magazines, and publication of books (Horne, et al. 464-470; Catterson, et al. 1714-1724; Patterson, et al. 1203-1212).
Some of the commonly followed intermittent fasting regimens include the following –
[1] complete alternative day fasting: this regimen entails fasting on alternating days with no energy comprising foods / beverages to be consumed and the eating days entailing consumption of foods / beverages ad-libitum (Horne, et al. 464-470; Catterson, et al. 1714-1724; Patterson, et al. 1203-1212), [2] modified fasting regimens: the modified regimen entail consumption ranging between 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the energy needs during the fasting days scheduled. The said regimen forms basis for widely followed “5 : 2” diet that entails severe restriction of energy over 2 days (non-consecutive) in the week as well as eating ad libitum during other five days (Horne, et al. 464-470; Catterson, et al. 1714-1724; Patterson, et al. 1203-1212), [3] time restricted feeding: this protocols enables individuals in consuming energy intake of ad libitum nature over specific time windows that shall induce fasting periods over the routine basis. In summary, studies focusing on lesser than 3 meals each day shall form indirect examinations relating to prolonged nightly / daily periods of fasting (Horne, et al. 464-470; Catterson, et al. 1714-1724; Patterson, et al. 1203-1212), [4] religious fasting: wide ranging regimens of fasting shall be undertaken for purposes of religious / spiritual nature. For example, Ramadan fasting is the fast between dawn and sunset at the time of Ramadan holy months. The highly common form of dietary practice shall be in consuming single large meal post sunset as well as one light meal prior to dawn, and [5] other religious fasts: some of the monks in the Christian faith abstain routinely from that of food / drink over extended periods in time (Horne, et al. 464-470; Catterson, et al. 1714-1724; Patterson, et al. 1203-1212).
In this context, objective of this study lies in providing detailed overview with respect to the regimens of intermittent fasting as well as summarizing evidences over health benefits from undertaking intermittent fasting by way of focusing over studies of human intervention nature. As most data pertaining to intermittent fasting has been through research on animal models, the focus shall be human studies. Health outcomes in undertaking intermittent fasting pertain to changes over weight as well as metabolic parameters pertaining to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Methods
The approach to undertaking this study entailed an exploratory study to determine past studies involving human participants to assess the effectiveness of intermittent fasting. Hence, studies involving human interventions and focused on different types of fasting regimens shall be identified. A detailed review and assessment of these studies shall then be undertaken by way of an qualitative analysis to determine the outcomes and findings for this study.
Findings & Analysis
The studies identified and the summary of the findings from reviewing these studies are presented and discussed in this section. In one of the human intervention studies that employed 8 men as participants who were healthy and non-obese, the fasting approach was an alternate day one with 20-hour interval spanning 15 days. The outcomes indicated not statistically significant weight reduction, and in terms of metabolic factors, reduction in glucose levels, increase in adiponectin, and decrease in leptin was noted (Hallberg, et al. 2128-2136). In another such study, the...