How a 24-hour fast changes immune cell metabolism
The Meta-SHIFT Study: How Metabolic Shift Shapes Human Immunometabolism - a Fasting Trial
This study will test how a 24-hour fast changes immune cell metabolism and gene activity in healthy adults aged 18–40.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 28 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Cornell University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ithaca, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT07527208 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-arm intervention compares each participant to themselves in a fed state (2 hours after a meal) and after 24 hours of fasting to measure metabolic and immune changes. Researchers will collect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to measure basal and activated energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and changes in immune cell subsets, along with whole‑genome single‑cell transcriptomics and blood metabolite profiles. The study also explores how refeeding reverses any fasting-induced gene expression changes and may include sampling of subcutaneous adipose tissue to study resident immune cells. Participants are healthy adults with BMI 18.5–24.9 who complete a three-day intervention at a metabolic research unit.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18–40 with BMI 18.5–24.9 who are willing to fast and attend all in-person visits over the three-day intervention.
Not a fit: People with chronic medical conditions (for example diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer), on prescribed medications including GLP‑1 agonists, with recent infections or antibiotic use, or outside the specified age/BMI ranges are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could reveal how short-term fasting alters immune function and metabolism, suggesting dietary or metabolic strategies to modulate immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior small studies of short-term fasting have reported metabolic and immune changes, but combining PBMC energy profiling with whole‑genome single‑cell transcriptomics and adipose immune sampling is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Apparently healthy * Age 18-40y at the time of recruitment * BMI ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 * Willing to participate in all study activities during the 3-day intervention * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with any chronic medical condition that can interfere with the study outcome (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, liver disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disease, long COVID, PASC) * Bleeding disorder (e.g., Hemophilia A/B, Von Willebrand Disease, or low platelets), current anemia or current use of blood thinners or anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin, heparin) * Any acute or chronic infection disease or fever in the past month * Antibiotic use in the past 2 months * Use of any prescribed medications (incl. GLP-1 agonists), except for contraceptives * Usage of recreational drugs in the last three months * Unstable body weight (weight gain or loss \>5% of total BW in the past three months) * Following any restrictive diet within one month of starting the study (for example a ketogenic diet or weight loss diet) * Fasted for 16 hours or longer in the past week * History of an eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder) * Allergic to one or more components of the standardized meal and/or shake (i.e., milk, wheat, and soy) * Average alcohol intake that exceeds 1 consumption/day or 7 consumptions/week over the past month * Tobacco smoker or regular use of nicotine products * Donated or intend to donate blood from 2 months before the study until the end of the study * Being pregnant or lactating * Participation in another biomedical study during this study
Where this trial is running
Ithaca, New York
- Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences. Cornell University — Ithaca, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sander Kersten, Ph.D. — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Larissa van der Zon, MS
- Email: meta-shift@cornell.edu
- Phone: 607-255-4045
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.