Healthy volunteers will be recruited to participate in a ten-week double-blinded crossover trial. The trial will consist of two, three-week periods of intermittent fasting, where subjects receive either antioxidant supplementation or placebo, the ordering of which will be randomly determined. A one-week preconditioning will precede each invention period, and a two week "wash-out" period will follow the first intervention period. Serum-based assays will be performed to assess levels of reactive oxidant species, antioxidant genes, sirtuins, and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and aging. The investigators hypothesize that an intermittent fasting diet in healthy young volunteers will improve these markers of cellular aging and that these beneficial effects will be abrogated by the supplementation of antioxidants. This study is a proof-of-principle study that will shed light on the mechanism and effects of IF as an anti-aging dietary intervention in the absence of weight loss. It will inform the design of dietary interventions that are both effective in improving markers of aging and feasible for patients to practice on a long-term basis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
37
The intermittent fasting paradigm used in this study will require participants to alternate between days of feasting (175% of normal caloric intake) and fasting ( 25% of normal caloric intake). Food will be provided by University of Florida Clinical Research Center with macronutrient composition prepared according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
once each day in morning; oral pill form
500mg twice each day; morning and evening; oral pill form
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
SOD2 gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: SOD2 = Superoxide-dismutase-2
Time frame: 3 weeks
SOD2 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: SOD2 = Superoxide-dismutase-2
Time frame: 3 weeks
GPx1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: GPx1 = Glutathione peroxidase 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
SIRT1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note SIRT1 = Sirtuin 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
SIRT3 gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note SIRT3 = Sirtuin 3
Time frame: 3 weeks
mTFA gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: mTFA = mitochondrial transcription factor a
Time frame: 3 weeks
NRF1 gene expression (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note NRF1 = Nuclear respiratory factor 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
8oxodG ratio (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using DNA extracted from venous blood. Note: 8oxodG = 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine/2-deoxyguanosine
Time frame: 3 weeks
8oxoG ratio (intermittent fasting)
Observational outcome examines difference in expression between a normal diet and a 3-week intermittent fasting diet using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: 8oxoG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8 dihydroguanosine/guanosine
Time frame: 3 weeks
GPx1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: GPx1 = Glutathione peroxidase 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
SIRT1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note SIRT1 = Sirtuin 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
SIRT3 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note SIRT3 = Sirtuin 3
Time frame: 3 weeks
mFTA gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: mTFA = mitochondrial transcription factor a
Time frame: 3 weeks
NRF1 gene expression (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note NRF1 = Nuclear respiratory factor 1
Time frame: 3 weeks
8oxodG ratio (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using DNA extracted from venous blood. Note: 8oxodG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine/2-deoxyguanosine
Time frame: 3 weeks
8oxoG ratio (antioxidant supplementation)
Experimental outcome examining differences between intermittent fasting with supplementation of antioxidants and intermittent fasting alone using RNA extracted from venous blood. Note: 8oxoG ratio = 8-oxo-7,8 dihydroguanosine/guanosine
Time frame: 3 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.