A recent study conducted collaboratively by researchers from Israel and France has discovered that alternate-day fasting (ADF) activates key genes and liver-promoting factors, leading to enhanced liver function.
Alternate-day fasting (ADF) activates key genes and liver-promoting factors. (Photo: iStock).
A research report published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research on December 10 indicates that periodic fasting can improve the liver’s ability to produce energy from fats during subsequent fasting periods.
The study, conducted by scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) and the University of Toulouse (France), found that alternate-day fasting (ADF) activates key genes and liver-promoting factors, thereby enhancing the liver’s efficiency in ketone production – generating ketone bodies from fats to provide energy when glucose levels in the body are low.
Just one week into the ADF regimen, the liver can produce more ketones during subsequent fasting periods, suggesting the liver’s ability to “remember” previous fasting episodes. Furthermore, the study indicates that the health benefits of ADF, such as improved lipid metabolism, are related to ketone production rather than changes in caloric intake or body weight.
This discovery opens new avenues for understanding the body’s mechanisms during fasting regimens, while also highlighting the importance of practicing periodic fasting for long-term health maintenance.
