A Diet Similar to Fasting Resists Obesity and Causes Changes in the Brain

SadaNews - A team of scientists seeking to address the ongoing obesity crisis has made an important discovery, as intermittent calorie restriction leads to noticeable changes in both the gut and the brain, which could open new horizons for maintaining a healthy weight.

According to the website "Science Alert," citing the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, researchers from China studied 25 volunteers classified as obese over a period of 62 days, during which they participated in an intermittent energy restriction (IER) program, a system that involves precise control over the amount of calories consumed and relative fasting on certain days.

Participants in the study lost an average of 7.6 kilograms or 7.8% of their body weight. Evidence was also found of changes in the activity of brain regions associated with obesity, as well as in gut bacteria composition.

The Brain, Gut, and Microbiome

Health researcher Qiang Zeng from the Second Medical Center and the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases in China stated, "It has been proven that a low-calorie diet alters the brain-gut-microbiome axis in humans.”

He explained that "the notable changes in the gut microbiome and the activity of brain regions associated with addiction during and after weight loss are highly dynamic and interconnected over time."

Changes in brain activity were detected through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in areas known for their importance in regulating appetite and addiction, including the inferior frontal gyrus. Changes in the gut microbiome, analyzed through stool samples and blood measurements, were also linked to specific brain regions.

Self-Control in Eating

Most importantly, the changes in the gut microbiome, analyzed through stool samples and blood measurements, were linked to specific brain areas. For instance, the bacteria Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii were negatively associated with the activity of the left inferior frontal gyrus, a region responsible for executive functions, including self-control regarding eating.

Medical researcher Xiaoning Wang from the Government Medical Center for Geriatric Medicine in China explained that the gut microbiome is believed to communicate with the brain in a complex, bidirectional manner.

The microbiome produces neurotransmitters and neurotoxins that reach the brain via nerves and the bloodstream. In turn, the brain controls eating behavior, while nutrients from our diet alter the composition of the gut microbiome.

A Problem for Over a Billion People

It is estimated that over a billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, increasing the risk of many different health problems, from cancer to heart disease.

Learning more about how the brain and gut depend on each other may make a significant difference in effectively preventing and reducing obesity.

Biomedical Scientist Liming Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences stated, "The next question to be answered is the precise mechanism through which the gut microbiome and the brain communicate in individuals suffering from obesity, including during weight loss."

He added that it is necessary to identify "which specific areas of the gut microbiome and the brain are crucial for successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight" to develop effective solutions.