The intermittent post has become one of the most popular nutritional strategies in the last decade, promoted not only for weight loss, but also for its potential to improve metabolic health and reduce inflammation. The basic assumption is that these interventions activate the same beneficial mechanisms in all individuals. A new clinical study conducted by British University Columbia Okanagan (Ubco) contradicts this assumption and shows that People with obesity respond very differently to the job compared to normoponderal people.
Published in iSciencethe study analyzed how a 48 -hour post affects both the metabolism and the immune function, and the results raise important question marks on how the post must be applied in the case of people with obesity.
The team coordinated by Dr. Helena Neudorf conducted a controlled study that included two groups: people with obesity, respectively people with normal weight. All participants followed a 48 -hour post, during which repeated blood samples for evaluation were taken:
- hormones and metabolites (eg glucose, ketone bodies)
- the metabolic rate at rest
- inflammatory markers
- T cell activity (major components of the immune system)
This integrated approach has allowed the assessment of how metabolic and immune systems adapt to the temporary lack of nutritional intake.
The main results
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The study highlighted significant differences between the two groups:
Reduced production of ketone bodies in people with obesity
During fasting, the body changes its main source of energy, moving from glucose to fat, producing in this process ketone bodies. Normoponderal participants have presented a normal increase in the level of ketone in circulation, which indicates this metabolic change.
Instead, people with obesity had a reduced growth of ketone bodiessuggesting a limited ability to move on to the use of fats in fasting conditions. This is important because the ketone bodies are not just energy substrates, they also have roles of adjusting immune functions.
Persistent inflammation
The T cells of the normoponderal participants presented a reduction in inflammatory activity and an increased use of fats as an energy source, both being considered favorable immuno-metabolic adaptations.
In the case of people with obesity, the levels of pro-inflammatory t cells have remained high Even after 48 hours of post. Also, immune cells have shown a low ability to use fat, indicating compromised immuno-metabolic flexibility. This suggests that The immune system does not adapt to the post in a way that favors the reduction of inflammation.
Weakened immuno-regulatory effects of ketone bodies
Cetonic bodies can change certain proteins and amino acids through chemical mechanisms that reduce inflammation. These beneficial ways were less active To obesity participants, suggesting that their immune system does not benefit from the regulatory effects of the post.
These findings contradict the idea that the post is universally beneficial. Instead the study shows that Body composition and inflammatory status significantly influence how the body responds to the post. The affected metabolic and immunological adaptations observed in obesity could explain why these people have a higher level of chronic inflammation, despite the adoption of interventions such as post.
It is important to emphasize that the study does not state that the post is inefficient or harmful in obesity. Rather, it shows the fact that not all organisms respond in the same way and that the intervention must be adapted to the metabolic and immunological profile of each person.
Implications for personalized nutrition
The results open the way to personalized post protocols. Instead of recommending the same duration or frequency of the post of all persons, future recommendations could consider:
- the level of basic inflammation
- the degree of metabolic flexibility
- the ability to produce ketone bodies
- the metabolic profile of immune cells
Thus, the duration of the post or combination with certain anti -inflammatory nutrients could be adjusted to maximize benefits and reduce risks for people with obesity.
This type of personalized approach is relevant to conditions associated with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, liver steatosis or cardiovascular disease, in which inflammation plays a central role.
Research directions
The authors emphasize the need for additional studies to understand the deep mechanisms of these differences. A few key questions include:
- How does inflammation inflammation inflammation inflammation inflammation of the metabolic behavior of immune cells?
- Can metabolic flexibility in obesity be improved by a longer adaptation period?
- Can the ketone bodies be stimulated by food or pharmaceutical interventions?
The answer to these questions could transform the post from a popular tendency into a precise therapeutic tool, biologically adapted to each individual.
This study greatly advances the understanding of how the post interacts with obesity, metabolism and immune function. He shows that The benefits of the post are not evenly felt. People with obesity have a distinct immuno-metabolic profile, marked by persistent inflammation and reduced production of ketone bodies.
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