Utilizing Fasting to Decrease Chronic Inflammation with the Help of a Misunderstood Fat
As the leader of Britain, Rishi Sunak bears a significant responsibility. To manage the pressure, he practices fasting.
From 5pm Sunday to 5am Tuesday, he consumes only water, tea, or black coffee. He views this practice as “an important discipline for me.” [1] While the primary motivation for his fasting may not be for health benefits, he is still reaping numerous advantages, including cellular cleansing, enhanced DNA repair, and healthier aging.
Another significant advantage is the reduction of inflammation. Recent scientific findings have unveiled a new way in which fasting can aid in combating chronic inflammation and the associated health issues.
Overview
Fasting Is Proven To Fight Illness
According to neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins, fasting in humans “helps reduce obesity, hypertension, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.” For instance, after reviewing 31 studies on patients with rheumatoid arthritis, they concluded: “there is little doubt that during fasting, both inflammation and pain decrease in RA patients.” [1]
Research has also demonstrated that fasting promotes longevity.
Ongoing research is exploring the mechanisms through which fasting diminishes inflammation. A recent study focused on the inflammasome, which serves as a key element in the body’s innate immune system, responding to stress, cellular damage, or infection by triggering inflammation.
While acute inflammation aids in healing, the inflammasome can also induce inflammation in harmful ways. For example, one of its functions involves destroying unwanted cells, leading to the release of cell contents into the body and triggering inflammation.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the National Institute of Health (NIH) sought to delve deeper into this phenomenon. Professor Clare Bryant, senior author of the study, stated: “We are particularly interested in understanding the origins of chronic inflammation in various human diseases, especially the role of the inflammasome.”
Arachidonic Acid Dampens Inflammation
“What has become evident in recent years,” she continued, “is that a specific inflammasome – the NLRP3 inflammasome – plays a crucial role in numerous major diseases like obesity and atherosclerosis, as well as in conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, which are prevalent among older individuals, particularly in the Western world.” [2]
To investigate this further, researchers took blood samples from 21 volunteers who consumed a 500-calorie meal before fasting for 24 hours and then eating a second 500-calorie meal. They observed that calorie restriction elevated arachidonic acid (AA) levels, derived from consuming foods containing linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid. Upon resuming meals, AA levels decreased again.
In unexpected findings, they discovered that AA suppresses the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome, contrary to its reputation for increasing inflammation.
Regular Fasting Could Reduce Chronic Inflammation
In their published paper in Cell Reports, the researchers concluded: “These findings demonstrate the importance of AA as a natural regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome and provide a rationale for how fasting reduces systemic inflammation.” [3]
Discussing their results, Professor Bryant remarked: “This offers a potential explanation for how altering our diet, particularly through fasting, shields us from inflammation, particularly the damaging type associated with many diseases linked to a high-calorie Western diet.
“It is premature to assert that fasting protects against diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's since the effects of arachidonic acid are short-lived. However, our work contributes to the growing body of scientific literature supporting the health benefits of caloric restriction. It suggests that regular fasting over time could help diminish the chronic inflammation associated with these conditions. It is certainly an appealing idea.”
The study also sheds light on the mechanism of action of aspirin.
Aspirin Prevents AA Breakdown
Despite aspirin being in use for over a century, the precise way in which aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs achieve their anti-inflammatory effects remains incompletely understood. The study findings provide insight into this process.
Normally, the body rapidly breaks down arachidonic acid, but aspirin inhibits this breakdown. As a result, there is an accumulation of the lipid, reducing inflammasome activity and consequently inflammation.
Regular intake of aspirin is not recommended to boost AA levels due to its side effects of stomach bleeding; fasting is a more effective and safer alternative.
Although AA possesses some inflammatory properties, it also generates anti-inflammatory and blood vessel-relaxing metabolites. Studies in humans indicate that higher blood AA levels are associated with decreased pro-inflammatory markers and increased anti-inflammatory markers. [4]
As blood AA levels are tightly regulated, increasing dietary AA may not significantly raise levels. Nevertheless, since natural foods containing linoleic acid are beneficial, it is worthwhile to ensure a good intake of these foods, including meat, fish, full-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and raw, unprocessed nuts and seeds.
As the research demonstrates, fasting is a proven approach to achieve this, whether by following the example of the British Prime Minister or through other less intensive fasting methods that have been covered previously, such as intermittent fasting.
Summary
Fasting has long been linked to health benefits such as improved longevity and reduced inflammation. Recent research from the University of Cambridge and NIH elucidates how fasting boosts arachidonic acid (AA), a lipid that suppresses the NLRP3 inflammasome's activity, a key contributor to chronic inflammation. These findings suggest that regular fasting could help combat conditions associated with inflammation, like Alzheimer's and heart disease, while offering a natural alternative to drugs like aspirin.