THE EFFECT OF ALTERNATE DAY FASTING ON WEIGHT, FOOD INTAKE AND FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN RAT

Alternate Day Fasting (ADF) is one of dietary regimens in which food is available only every other day. Available limited evidence shows that this regimen may result in beneficial effects similar to classic caloric restriction، including weight loss and other associated useful effects of weight loss. Twelve week-old Wistar rats were obtained from animal house of Jundi Shapur University and fed a standard diet. Food was provided ad-libittum (AL) until 13 week of age. At that time rats were assigned to one of two groups: AL fed ad libitum or ADF، provided access to food every other day. Body weight was measured each week on the same day and time. Food intake was measured daily. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical tests performed as two-tailed and P value of less than 0. 05 was considered as statistically significance level. At the end of the intervention period body weight and food intakes of the (ADF) group were significantly lower than AL group (p<0. 05) but there were not significant changes in fasting blood glucose levels. According to findings of this experimental study، ADF regimen could be used as an individualized eating strategy for weight loss but it could not have beneficial effects on fasting blood glucose levels.