New Delhi, 14 February (IANS). The method of keeping fast is called “intermittent fasting”, is very popular for weight loss and health to improve. But according to a new research, it may not be safe for adolescents, as this may affect the growth of their cells.
Scientists from Technical University of Munich (TUM), LMU Hospital Munich and Helmholtz Munich, Germany, reported that the effects of intrormual fasting may vary according to age.
Intermittent fasting means that a person should eat only within 6 to 8 hours every day and keep fast at the rest of the time. It is considered helpful in preventing diabetes and heart disease and is also helpful in losing weight.
A recent research published in journal cell reports found that prolonged intermittent fasting caused an obstruction of insulin -making cells (beta cells) in younger mice.
Researcher Professor Stephen Herzig said, “It was clear in our study that intermittent fasting may be beneficial for adults, but may have some threats for children and adolescents.”
In this study, adolescent, adult and elderly mice were kept without food one day and the next two days were given a normal diet. Ten weeks later it was observed that the sensitivity towards insulin increased in the body of adult and elderly mice, which improved their metabolism. It is necessary to control the level of sugar in the blood and protect it from type 2 diabetes.
But the functionality of beta cells in adolescent mice decreased, causing insulin production to decrease. Insulin deficiency can cause diabetes and other metabolic problems.
According to researcher Leonardo Matta, “It is generally believed to be beneficial for fasting fasting beta cells, but we found that young rats were making less insulin after long fasting.”
When scientists tried to find out the reason for this, they found that beta cells of young mice could not be fully developed.
This research was compared to humans’ tissue data, it was found that the development of beta cells may also be interrupted in patients with type 1 diabetes.
-IANS
AS/