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Practicality of Intermittent Fasting and Its Effect on Markers of Aging and Oxidative Stress

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Metabolism
Aging
Interventions
Other: Intermittent Fasting
Dietary Supplement: 400 IU Vitamin E
Dietary Supplement: 1000 mg Vitamin C
Registration Number
NCT02132091
Lead Sponsor
University of Florida
Brief Summary

Healthy volunteers will be recruited to participate in a ten-week double-blinded crossover trial. The trial will consist of two, three-week periods of intermittent fasting, where subjects receive either antioxidant supplementation or placebo, the ordering of which will be randomly determined. A one-week preconditioning will precede each invention period, and a two week "wash-out" period will follow the first intervention period. Serum-based assays will be performed to assess levels of reactive oxidant species, antioxidant genes, sirtuins, and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and aging.

The investigators hypothesize that an intermittent fasting diet in healthy young volunteers will improve these markers of cellular aging and that these beneficial effects will be abrogated by the supplementation of antioxidants. This study is a proof-of-principle study that will shed light on the mechanism and effects of IF as an anti-aging dietary intervention in the absence of weight loss. It will inform the design of dietary interventions that are both effective in improving markers of aging and feasible for patients to practice on a long-term basis.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
37
Inclusion Criteria
  • Body mass index in the range of 20.0-30.0 kg/m2;
  • Age between 19 and 30;
  • Stable weight (change <±10%) for 3 months immediately prior to the study
  • No history of metabolic disorders (e.g. non-diabetic), cardiovascular disease, or thyroid dysfunction
  • No past or present eating disorders
  • No acute or chronic inflammatory disorder
  • No more than moderate physical activity (i.e.,<3 hour/week of light exercise sessions for the past 3 months)
  • No current medications to regulate blood sugar or lipids
  • Not donated blood within 56 days of study start date
  • No food allergies
  • No dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarianism and vegan)
  • No heavy drinking (more than 15 drinks/week)
  • No use of tobacco or recreational drugs within past 3 months
  • Access to a microwave or stove
  • Access to refrigeration
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Inflexibility of schedule such that subject cannot attend blood draw appointments
  • Unwillingness to pick-up and eat only study-provided food during the 8 weeks in which it is provided and for unwillingness to abstain from travel (>48hrs) during these same 8 weeks of the trial (travel is permitted during wash-out period)
  • Unwillingness to abstain from tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs, resveratrol or antioxidant supplements (other than study-provided) for the duration of study
  • Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to become pregnant
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intermittent Fasting + Antioxidants400 IU Vitamin EIntermittent Fasting; 400 IU Vitamin E; 1000 mg Vitamin C
Intermittent Fasting + Antioxidants1000 mg Vitamin CIntermittent Fasting; 400 IU Vitamin E; 1000 mg Vitamin C
Intermittent FastingIntermittent FastingIntermittent Fasting
Intermittent Fasting + AntioxidantsIntermittent FastingIntermittent Fasting; 400 IU Vitamin E; 1000 mg Vitamin C
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
SOD2 gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: SOD2 = Superoxide-dismutase-2

SOD2 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: SOD2 = Superoxide-dismutase-2

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
GPx1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: GPx1 = Glutathione peroxidase 1

SIRT1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note SIRT1 = Sirtuin 1

SIRT3 gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note SIRT3 = Sirtuin 3

mTFA gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: mTFA = mitochondrial transcription factor a

8oxoG ratio (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: 8oxoG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8 dihydroguanosine/guanosine

GPx1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: GPx1 = Glutathione peroxidase 1

SIRT3 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note SIRT3 = Sirtuin 3

mFTA gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: mTFA = mitochondrial transcription factor a

NRF1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note NRF1 = Nuclear respiratory factor 1

8oxodG ratio (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using DNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: 8oxodG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine/2-deoxyguanosine

NRF1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note NRF1 = Nuclear respiratory factor 1

8oxodG ratio (intermittent fasting)3 weeks

Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using DNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: 8oxodG = 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine/2-deoxyguanosine

SIRT1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note SIRT1 = Sirtuin 1

8oxoG ratio (antioxidant supplementation)3 weeks

Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood.

Note: 8oxoG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8 dihydroguanosine/guanosine

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Florida

🇺🇸

Gainesville, Florida, United States

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