Intermittent fasting makes fruit flies live longer—will it work for people? (Overnight for 20 hours extended lives by 13-18%)

Medical XPress / Columbia University Irving Medical Center Nature ^ | Sept. 29, 2021 | Matt Ulgherait et al

[ConservativeMind]

Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding in general limit food, but not overall caloric intake, to specific hours of the day. (In contrast, dietary restriction, which also has been shown to increase longevity, reduces caloric intake.)

"Because intermittent fasting restricts the timing of eating, it's been hypothesized that natural biological clocks play a role," says Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, Ph.D.

The researchers put their flies on one of four different schedules: 24-hour unrestricted access to food, 12-hour daytime access to food, 24-hour fasting following by 24-hour unrestricted feeding, or what the researchers called intermittent time-restricted fasting or iTRF (20 hours of fasting followed by a recovery day of unlimited feeding).

Among the four eating schedules, only iTRF significantly extended the lifespan—18% for females and 13% for males.

And the timing of the 20-hour fast was critical: Lifespan increased only for flies that fasted at night and broke their fast around lunchtime. The lifespans of flies that instead fasted all day, eating only at night, did not change.

For the researchers, the role of time was a big clue to how fasting is linked to longevity. They found that a cell-cleaning process kicks in after fasting, but only when fasting occurs during the night. Scientists call the cell-cleaning process autophagy (Greek for self-eating), and the process is known to slow aging by cleaning up and recycling damaged components of the cell.

"We found that the life-extending benefits of iTRF require a functional circadian rhythm and autophagy components," Shirasu-Hiza says. "When either of those processes were disrupted, the diet had no effect on the animals' longevity."

iTRF not only increased the flies' lifespan, the eating regimen also improved the flies' "healthspan," increasing muscle and neuron function, reducing age-related protein aggregation, and delaying the onset of aging markers in muscles and intestinal tissues.

[ConservativeMind]

For those of us wondering the best approach to intermittent fasting, it would appear we can add a number of functional years to our lives with the 20 hour, overnight fasting approach. It may be possible to do something similar with less than 20, but getting closer to only 12 hours means you may lose the “life extension” benefit to fasting.

[Red Badger]

Somalians must live forever.....................

[Seruzawa]

I always base my personal health concerns on what is good for fruit flies.

[Jyotishi]

Oh look what modern science is finding out!

[frank ballenger]

Fruit flies....

So test it on Buttigieg and his “husband” before normal people.

Like they used to say “this lotion caused cancer in laboratory animals in tests.” So? Be sure not to let the laboratory animals buy the stuff.

[Yo-Yo]

I fast between bites...

[BiglyCommentary]

The Okinawans are some of the longest living and built into their culture is not overeating. There’s a whole bunch of research showing calorie reduction extends lifespans. The magic point seems go be about 14 hours without food where repair and rebuild processes kick in. So eat an early dinner and then don’t eat again till lunch.

[GOP Poet]

Very interesting study. My only question is what do or how do they define 'Night.' I ask as someone who intermittently fasts daily but usually I eat my main and sometimes only meal at 'dinner time.' This could mean at 6 PM, 9PM, 5 PM. Depends on my schedule that day.

So given the benefits of fasting benefit of longevity at night. I'd love more clarity on that definition from their study. I found it interesting they do not clarify and define exactly what they mean by night. As we all make assumptions about what 'night' means. Is it the hours between 10PM and 5PM for instance. Is it 5PM yo 5AM the next morning? Would love clarity here.

[BiglyCommentary]

Fasting is the principle of the sabbath. Regular downtime is good. Even the Creator rested on the 7th day.

[Wissa]

I thought fruit flies only lived for about a day.

[BiglyCommentary]

14/15 hour spread is the key. Not as important when that period starts. Seems to be healthiestvwhen your clocked is tuned into the natural day and night. When the first birds start chirping wake up. A few hours after sun down go to sleep.

[BiglyCommentary]

But its a really long day with fasting. Lol I wish they’d practice this when I have bananas sitting around.

[seowulf]

For everybody who wants to extend the life of their fruitflies...

But seriously, I’ve doing this for well over a year, maybe closer to two, and now it just comes naturally.

I generally fast until about 3 or 4PM, then have another light meal at about 6 PM. I drink lots of water throughout the day.

I’ve lost about 50 lbs without really trying, my uric acid levels are down along with the joint and muscle aches.

Feeling fine. I would recommend giving it a try.

[skr]

Lol!

[Organic Panic]

I will fast about twice a year for a full week. Nothing but water. The first two days are tough but after I really start to feel good. I find it very refreshing and mentally resetting. It’s amazing how the mind clears up when it thinks the body is starving.

[Tennessee Conservative]

I currently do 15 to 16 overnight fasting except on the days I have to take an ibuprofen to get my foot to move. Twelve hours is the most I can do then.

[EEGator]

And they’re super intelligent…

[EEGator]

I’m using Asperger’s Syndrome high school dropouts from Sweden myself.

[neefer]

My husband and I were fasting too (and on a mostly ketone diet) until a few weeks ago when we went on vacation. Now we’re constantly hungry and feel tired.

[HandyDandy]

“Time flies like an arrow,
Fruit flies like a banana.”

G.Marx