Recently, researchers from the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and other hospitals jointly cooperatedfrontiers in cellular and infection microbiologyThe journal published research findings [1] showing that intermittent energy restriction (IER) can be effective in helping obese people** and help reduce obesity-related complications, and this weight loss can significantly alter gut microbiota and brain activity.
In this study, a total of 35 subjects completed the IER and 25 subjects successfully lost weight. The research team used stool sample metagenomics, blood tests, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to study changes in gut microbiome composition, physiological parameters, serum composition, and brain activity in 25 obese Chinese women and men on an intermittent energy-restricted (IER) diet.
IER reduces obesity and improves obesity-related complications
At the end of the study, these participants lost an average of 76kg, that is, down 78% of body weight. In addition, body fat and waist circumference have also been reduced. Blood pressure, serum fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, low-density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly reduced. These data suggest that IER can reduce not only obesity but also obesity-related complications such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and liver dysfunction.
The IER intervention affects brain function and changes in intestinal microbiota
The authors explored the effects of IER on the brain and gut microbiota, and magnetic resonance imaging found that IER reduced activity in brain regions associated with appetite and addiction regulation, thereby contributing to**. Metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that IER increased gut microbiota richness and diversity;In-depth analysis showed that E. coli was the species with the highest content of intestinal microbiota in obese individuals at baseline, while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, parabacteroides distasonis and bacterokles uniformis increased significantly after IER, while the richness of E. coli decreased. These results suggest that the intervention of IER will affect brain function and intestinal microbiota.
Further analysis showed that the abundance of E. coli, coprococcus comes, and eubacterium hallii was inversely correlated with the activity of the left orbital inferior gyrus of the brain, an area that plays a key role in executive function, including our **willingness. In contrast, the abundance of parabacteroides distasonis and fl**onifractor plautii was positively correlated with areas of brain activity associated with attention, motor inhibition, emotion, and learning. This result suggests that changes in the brain and gut microbiome during and after IER are interrelated.
Taken together, intermittent energy restriction (IER) can help obese people be effective** and reduce obesity-related complications, and this weight loss can significantly alter gut microbiota and brain activity.
Coincidentally, recently, a research team from the University of Illinois was inannals of internal medicineThe journal published research results showing that energy restriction and 8-hour time-restricted eating are effective**, and by adhering to these two methods for 1 year, participants in the energy restriction group lost an average of 542kg, while 8 hours of time-restricted eating reduced it by 461kg。
Specifically, the energy-restricted group lost an average of 542kg, while the 8-hour time-restricted eating group reduced it by 461kg。In terms of changes in body composition, the fat loss effect of the two groups was also comparable, and the fat mass, waist circumference and BMI of the participants in both groups were reduced.
In addition, it was further found that compared with the normal eating group, the daily energy intake of the 8-hour time-restricted eating group was reduced by an average of 425 kcal, which even exceeded the 405 kcal reduction per day in the energy-restricted group. It shows that time-restricted eating is also essentially a restriction of energy intake!
Taken together, it suggests that energy restriction or time-restricted eating can be effective**.
In addition, a review published two years ago systematically summarized the effects and precautions of various intermittent fasting methods. Intermittent fasting has been shown to significantly reduce body weight clinically and improve metabolic health in obese individuals.
The review pooled and analysed more than 25 studies involving three types of intermittent fasting and concluded that all forms of fasting produced mild to moderate weight loss, ranging from 1% to 8% of baseline body weight, which was similar to the results of conventional restrictive diets. In addition, intermittent fasting can also promote health by lowering blood pressure and insulin resistance, as well as improving appetite and bringing about positive changes in the gut flora. In some cases, it can also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Summary
Today, obesity has become a global epidemic, and the incidence of obesity in various countries continues to soar. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from obesity. More importantly, obesity can lead to a series of metabolic syndromes and various complications, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, etc.
For obese people, since there is no time to "open their legs", then consider limiting calorie intake or eating at a limited time, which can not only be effective, but also improve the body's metabolism and contribute to good health!
References: 1] Zhou J, Wu X, Xiang T, et al (2023) dynamical alterations of brain function and gut microbiome in weight loss. front. cell. infect. microbiol. 13:1269548. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1269548
2] lin, shuhao et al. “time-restricted eating without calorie counting for weight loss in a racially diverse population : a randomized controlled trial.” annals of internal medicine vol. 176,7 (2023): 885-895. doi:10.7326/m23-0052
3] varady, krista a et al. “cardiometabolic benefits of intermittent fasting.” annual review of nutrition vol. 41 (2021): 333-361. doi:10.1146/annurev-nutr-052020-041327