Prolonged fasting and its effects on metabolism and potential therapies
Fastomics: Metabolic and Therapeutic Effects of Prolonged Fasting
This project will test whether prolonged water-only fasting changes blood metabolites in healthy adults (18–65, BMI 18.5–29.9) and whether those blood changes can improve disease cells in the lab.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Trial ID | NCT07216989 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study collects blood from healthy adult volunteers before and after periods of prolonged water-only fasting and measures changes in serum metabolites and immune markers. Researchers will expose cell-based disease models (for example cancer and metabolic-disease cell lines) to participant serum to see how fasting-altered blood factors affect those cells. Fasting protocols follow prior safety recommendations for fluid intake and duration, and participants will provide serial blood samples for biochemical and metabolomic analyses. The goal is to map fasting-driven molecular changes and link them to functional effects in laboratory disease models.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18–65 with BMI 18.5–29.9, not pregnant, without major comorbid conditions, willing to fast, and able to use a smartphone are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People with a history of eating disorders, hypoglycemia, recent blood donation, low body weight (<120 lbs), significant medical comorbidities, or who are pregnant are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify blood-borne factors induced by fasting that point to new treatment strategies or help tailor fasting-based interventions to improve metabolic health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human studies have shown that prolonged water-only fasting can be safe and alters metabolic markers, and fasting serum has produced beneficial effects in simple organism and some clinical contexts, but applying human fasting serum to multiple cell-based disease models is a novel extension.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages of 18-65 years old * Not pregnant * No comorbid conditions * BMI of 18.5-29.9. * Has a smartphone Exclusion Criteria: * Concern for active eating disorder per screening questionnaire * Self-reported eating disorder or history of eating disorder * History of hypoglycemia or contraindication for Prolonged Fasting * Weight \<120lbs * History of blood donation within the last 3 months.
Where this trial is running
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lisa Chow, MD, MS — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Lesia Lysne
- Email: endores@umn.edu
- Phone: 612-523-5844
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.