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A new way of using fasting to reduce inflammation, which is the harmful side effect of the immune system and the source of many chronic diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, may have been discovered by researchers at Cambridge. Fasting increases the level of arachidonic acid, a blood molecule that has anti-inflammatory properties. This could also shed some light on why drugs like aspirin have some positive effects, according to the researchers. Scientists have known for a long time that our diet, especially the high-calorie Western diet, can increase our chance of getting chronic inflammation-related diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Inflammation is the natural reaction of the body to injury or infection, but there are other mechanisms that can activate this reaction, such as the ‘inflammasome’, which works as an alarm clock in our cells, activating inflammation to help our body protect itself when it senses damage. However, the inflammasome can also cause inflammation by accident, as one of its roles is to eliminate unwanted cells, which can make the cell contents spill into the body and trigger inflammation.
Fasting’s Potential to Combat Inflammation-Linked Diseases: Exploring the NLRP3 Inflammasome
Professor Clare Bryant, delving into the causes of chronic inflammation and its link to diseases, highlights the potential of fasting as a tool. “We’re deeply invested in understanding the roots of chronic inflammation in numerous human diseases, particularly the role of the inflammasome,” she remarked in an interview with inews.co.uk.
Her research sheds light on the significance of a specific inflammasome, NLRP3, implicated in various major diseases. “Recent years have revealed the crucial role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in numerous major diseases, including obesity and atherosclerosis,” she explains. “Furthermore, it’s implicated in conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as many ailments affecting older adults, particularly in Western societies.”
How fasting lowers inflammation and prevents diseases: UK PM Rishi Sunak’s wellness routine revealed
The Prime Minister recently revealed that he fasts for one day a week as part of his “balanced lifestyle”. He said that this practice was an “important discipline” for him. The Sunday Times reported that Rishi Sunak does not eat anything for 36 hours every week.
Scientists have found that fasting may have anti-inflammatory benefits, although they are not sure why. They studied the blood samples of 21 people who ate a low-calorie meal, fasted for a day, and then ate another low-calorie meal. They discovered that fasting increased the levels of a lipid called arachidonic acid. Lipids are important molecules that store energy and help cells communicate. When the people resumed eating, their arachidonic acid levels dropped.
The researchers also noticed that arachidonic acid blocked the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex that triggers inflammation, in lab-grown immune cells. This was surprising because arachidonic acid was previously thought to cause inflammation rather than reduce it. “This could explain how changing our diet – especially by fasting – protects us from inflammation, especially the harmful kind that is linked to many diseases caused by a Western high-calorie diet,” Professor Bryant, a fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge, told inews.co.uk.
“The effects of arachidonic acid are short-lived, so we don’t know yet if fasting can prevent diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, but our research supports the growing evidence that calorie restriction has health benefits. It suggests that regular and long periods of fasting may help reduce the chronic inflammation that is associated with these diseases. It’s certainly an interesting idea,” Professor Bryant said.
The findings also imply that eating a high-calorie diet may increase the risk of developing certain diseases. Previous research has shown that high levels of inflammasome activity are found in some people who eat a high-fat diet. Professor Bryant proposed that there may be a balance between too much and too little of the wrong substance, which affects the inflammasome activity. “Arachidonic acid may be a potential factor for this.”
The researchers also speculated that the finding may reveal a new way of how aspirin and other drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines work. Aspirin slows down the body’s natural process of breaking down arachidonic acid, which can increase its levels and lower inflammation and inflammasome activity.
