Intermittent fasting may help prevent breast cancer, finds study

In this study, researchers used mice and induced menopause either chemically or surgically. They gave two groups of mice unrestricted access to high-fat foods for 10 weeks before the trial began to make them obese. Another group of mice, the control group, was given normal chow throughout this period. During the study, one group of mice continued to have unrestricted access to high-fat foods, while the control group still had unrestricted access to normal chow. The final group of mice, who were fed on a TRF schedule, had access to high-fat foods only for 8 hours during the night as they are naturally most active during the night.

Key findings of the study were:

Upon analysis, researchers found that the TRF

•                    Reduces breast cancer metastasis to the lung.
•                    Increases whole-body insulin sensitivity.
•                    Reduces hyperinsulinemia.
•                    Restores diurnal gene expression rhythms in the tumor.
•                    Attenuates tumor growth and insulin signaling.

The researchers claim these results are likely due to the fact that TRF improved circadian disruptions and metabolic problems associated with obesity.

They further mentioned "Importantly, inhibition of insulin secretion with diazoxide mimics TRF, whereas artificial elevation of insulin through insulin pumps implantation reverses the effect of TRF,"

The authors concluded, "Our data suggest that TRF is likely to be effective in breast cancer prevention and therapy."

For further information:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20743-7