Time-restricted periodic fasting: A revolutionary approach to combat obesity by enhancing Bcl-2 pro-survival proteins

Background & Aims

Obesity is a global health issue related to many physiological functions such as apoptosis and requires specific treatment approaches, especially in nutrition or diet modification. Our study aims to investigate the effects of time-restricted periodic fasting (TRPF) on the obesity phenotype and Bcl-2 pro-survival proteins in overweight or obese adults.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 38 young adult men with obesity and overweight. Participants were separated into a control group (CG) and a time-restricted periodic fasting group (PFG). Anthropometric and body composition measurements measured obesity phenotype, whereas B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test.

Results

A 10-day TRPF intervention could significantly reduce obesity phenotypes such as body weight (BW) (P = 0.00), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.00), waist circumference (WC) (P = 0.00), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) (P = 0.01), visceral fat level (VFL) (P = 0.01) and significantly reduced Bcl-2 levels (4.73 ± 4.96 ng/mL) compared to the pretest (5.49 ± 5.94 ng/m; P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between Δ in Bcl-2 levels with certain obesity phenotypes such as waist hip ratio (WHR) (β = -0.35; P < 0.05), BMI (β = -0.35; P < 0.05), body fat (BF) (β = -0.33; P < 0.05), and visceral fat level (VFL) (β = -0.34; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TRPF could reduce some parameters of obesity phenotype. These effects might be related to increased levels of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic parameter in young and overweight/obese adult men.