BIOCHEMISTRY AND ENDOCRINE CHANGES AFTER A 6-WEEK MEDITERRANEAN DIET INTERVENTION WITH FASTING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Fasting may be effective for reducing weight and improving health. We analysed the effect of a Mediterranean diet intervention, with a 5-day semi-fast, on inflammation, blood lipids and carbohydrate metabolism in overweight type II (BMI>27-30) or obesity (BMI>30-40). Glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-/LDL-cholesterol, albumin, AST-GOT, ALT-SGTP, C-reactive protein, insulin, IGF-1, T3, T4 and TSH were monitored, during a 6-week period, in 42 subjects with overweight type-II/obesity, between the ages of 30-65. Glucose, triglycerides, insulin, AST, IGF-1 and T3 values were not significantly decreased (p>0.05) during fasting and non-fasting diets, while albumin and T4 increased in both groups. C-reactive protein decreased significantly when fasting but increased when not. Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and ALT (p<0.05) were significantly decreased after fasting. Significant differences (p>0.05) were found for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and TSH in the Control group. Fasting resulted in greater insulin sensitivity and reduced levels of body fat, IGF-I, insulin, glucose, atherogenic lipids and inflammation.