Effects of fasting on the immune system in healthy adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates how fasting influences the immune system in healthy adults aged 20-40. Participants will undergo a 36-hour water-only fasting period, during which immune profiling, gene expression profiling, and flow cytometry will be conducted on their peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The study aims to determine whether fasting can alter immune responses and improve immune function. The research builds on previous findings that dietary restrictions can have significant effects on health and longevity.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 20-40 years, to constitute a young study population
* Gender: male subjects, to control for gender differences
* BMI: 19-27 kg/m2 to constitute a normal/healthy weight population
* Weight: 120 lbs or more
* Fasting glucose: 70-100 mg/dL, to ensure that fasting can be tolerated without inducing dangerously low levels of blood glucose
* Subjects must be willing to undergo a period of 36 hours of water-only fasting
* Subjects must be willing to collect samples of each bowel movement produced throughout the entire study period for microbiome analysis
* Subjects must be willing to collect blood pricks for blood glucose levels using a Contour Next One Blood Glucose Testing Kit during the fasting stage of the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current smoking
* Anemia
* Pregnancy or current breastfeeding
* Chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, or previous cardiovascular events
* Gastrointestinal diseases including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease
* Consumption of \>1 alcoholic drink/day
* Extreme dietary or exercise patterns
* Recent weight fluctuations (greater than 10% in the last six months)
* Regular use of over-the-counter allergy or pain medications (\>1/week)
* Taking prescription lipid medications (e.g. statins) or other supplements known to alter lipoprotein metabolism such as isoflavones
* Use of hormonal birth control including oral contraception pills, hormonal IUDs or rings, or hormonal birth control patches

Where it's running

• UC Davis
  Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Antonio Ji
• Email: ajixu@ucdavis.edu
• Phone: 916-551-2630

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Fasting for 84 Hours: How It Affects Fat Burning and Muscle Basics in Young Adults

  This study tests whether 84 hours of fasting changes peak fat oxidation, how efficiently mitochondria couple their energy, and the extracellular matrix in four groups of young people who are normal weight or obese.

  Recruiting University of Copenhagen · Copenhagen · NCT07692646

• Combining 10-day Fasting with Fibre to Boost Gut Health

  This study tests whether adding dietary fibre to a 10-day fast improves gut microbiome function and metabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity.

  Recruiting Buchinger Wilhelmi Development & Holding GmbH · Überlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg · NCT07691736

• Orforglipron for Type 2 Diabetes in Ramadan Fasters

  This study tests whether orforglipron helps people with type 2 diabetes who fast during Ramadan, to see if it improves blood sugar control safely.

  Recruiting at 33 sites Phase 3 Eli Lilly and Company · Agra and 39 other locations · NCT07613307

• Understanding how different meals affect metabolism

  This study tests how different types of meals affect metabolism in young adults to see how their bodies respond to various nutrients.

  Recruiting Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica · Mexico City · NCT06878781

• Effects of one week of fasting on metabolism and immunity in humans

  This study is testing how a week of fasting with water affects metabolism and immune function in people to see if it can improve their overall health.

  Recruiting Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing · Beijing · NCT06779201

• Fasting versus continuing tube feeding before procedures for critically ill patients

  This trial will test whether stopping tube feeding before a procedure or continuing it affects recovery for adults in the ICU on mechanical ventilation.

  Recruiting at 13 sites Massachusetts General Hospital · Palo Alto, California and 18 other locations · NCT06751043

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.