Fasting alters the gut microbiome with sustained blood pressure and body weight reduction in metabolic syndrome patients
Andras Balogh, et al.
Received Date: 13th February 20
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Periods of fasting and refeeding may reduce cardiometabolic risk elevated by Western diet. We show that in hypertensive metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients (n=35), a 5-day fast followed by a modified DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), antihypertensive medication need, and body-mass index (BMI) at three months post intervention compared to a modified DASH diet alone (n=36). Fasting altered the gut microbiome, impacting bacterial taxa and gene modules associated with short-chain fatty acid production. Cross-system analyses revealed a positive correlation of circulating mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, non-classical monocytes and CD4+ effector T cells with SBP. Furthermore, regulatory T cells (Tregs) positively correlated with BMI and weight. Machine learning could predict sustained SBP-responsiveness within the fasting group from baseline immunome data, identifying CD8+ effector T cells, Th17 cells and Tregs as important contributors to the model. The high-resolution multi-omics data highlights fasting as a promising non-pharmacological intervention in MetS.
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This is an abstract of a preprint hosted on an independent third party site. It has not been peer reviewed but is currently under consideration at Nature Communications.