Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens

Fasting is a diet intervention that has been shown to significantly modulate the gut microbiota, with potential health benefits. This review examines the impact of various fasting regimens, including time-restricted eating (TRE), Ramadan fasting (RF), and long-term fasting, on the composition and fu...

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Main Authors: Sumel Ashique, Biplab Debnath, Naheed Mojgani, Mohd. Tariq, Tanweer Haider, Eman Shorog, Sabina Yasmin, Anas Islam, Himanshu Sharma, Md Sadique Hussain, Ayush Madan, Tabarak Malik, Mohammad Yousuf Ansari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Biotechnology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590262825000425
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author Sumel Ashique
Biplab Debnath
Naheed Mojgani
Mohd. Tariq
Tanweer Haider
Eman Shorog
Sabina Yasmin
Anas Islam
Himanshu Sharma
Md Sadique Hussain
Ayush Madan
Tabarak Malik
Mohammad Yousuf Ansari
author_facet Sumel Ashique
Biplab Debnath
Naheed Mojgani
Mohd. Tariq
Tanweer Haider
Eman Shorog
Sabina Yasmin
Anas Islam
Himanshu Sharma
Md Sadique Hussain
Ayush Madan
Tabarak Malik
Mohammad Yousuf Ansari
author_sort Sumel Ashique
collection DOAJ
description Fasting is a diet intervention that has been shown to significantly modulate the gut microbiota, with potential health benefits. This review examines the impact of various fasting regimens, including time-restricted eating (TRE), Ramadan fasting (RF), and long-term fasting, on the composition and function of the gut microbiota in both animal models and human subjects. Studies have shown that fasting can increase microbial diversity, enrich beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia spp., Akkermansia muciniphila, and other Lachnospiraceae, and enhance the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate. These microbiota changes are associated with improvements in metabolic health markers, including body weight, blood pressure, glucose regulation, and lipid profiles, as well as reduced inflammation. However, the persistence of these effects after fasting varies between studies. Dietary changes during fasting, such as meal timing and composition, play a crucial role in shaping the response of the gut microbiota.Although most studies report beneficial results, heterogeneity in results highlights the need for more research to elucidate the relative contributions of factors such as age, baseline diet, habitual microbiota composition, fasting duration, and caloric content. The mechanistic links between specific microbial metabolites and clinical endpoints remain limited, and evidence for the synergistic effects of probiotics with fasting in humans is inconclusive. Future studies should employ standardized fasting protocols, integrate multi-omics approaches, and extend follow-up periods to determine the durability of microbiota and metabolic shifts. Developing personalized fasting strategies tailored to an individual’s baseline microbiota and metabolic phenotype may optimize the therapeutic potential of fasting for gut and metabolic health.
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spelling doaj-art-79934b2afea049cf81dedae59f67d7da2025-08-20T03:50:11ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Biotechnology2590-26282025-01-011010031110.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100311Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimensSumel Ashique0Biplab Debnath1Naheed Mojgani2Mohd. Tariq3Tanweer Haider4Eman Shorog5Sabina Yasmin6Anas Islam7Himanshu Sharma8Md Sadique Hussain9Ayush Madan10Tabarak Malik11Mohammad Yousuf Ansari12Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Bharat Technology, Uluberia 711316 West Bengal, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology, Bharat Technology, Uluberia 711316 West Bengal, IndiaBiotechnology Department, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, IranDepartment of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat 391760, India; Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, IndiaGyan Vihar School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302017, IndiaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow 226026 Uttar Pradesh, IndiaTeerthanker Mahaveer College of Pharmacy, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, UP 244001, IndiaUttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Research & Technology, People’s University, Bhanpur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462037, IndiaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378 Jimma, Ethiopia; Division of Research & Development, Lovely Professional University, 144411 Phagwara, India; Corresponding author at: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana 133207, India; Ibne Seena Pharmacy College, AMES Group of Institutions, Shahabad, Hardoi 241124 Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), India; Corresponding author at: MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana 133207, India.Fasting is a diet intervention that has been shown to significantly modulate the gut microbiota, with potential health benefits. This review examines the impact of various fasting regimens, including time-restricted eating (TRE), Ramadan fasting (RF), and long-term fasting, on the composition and function of the gut microbiota in both animal models and human subjects. Studies have shown that fasting can increase microbial diversity, enrich beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia spp., Akkermansia muciniphila, and other Lachnospiraceae, and enhance the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate. These microbiota changes are associated with improvements in metabolic health markers, including body weight, blood pressure, glucose regulation, and lipid profiles, as well as reduced inflammation. However, the persistence of these effects after fasting varies between studies. Dietary changes during fasting, such as meal timing and composition, play a crucial role in shaping the response of the gut microbiota.Although most studies report beneficial results, heterogeneity in results highlights the need for more research to elucidate the relative contributions of factors such as age, baseline diet, habitual microbiota composition, fasting duration, and caloric content. The mechanistic links between specific microbial metabolites and clinical endpoints remain limited, and evidence for the synergistic effects of probiotics with fasting in humans is inconclusive. Future studies should employ standardized fasting protocols, integrate multi-omics approaches, and extend follow-up periods to determine the durability of microbiota and metabolic shifts. Developing personalized fasting strategies tailored to an individual’s baseline microbiota and metabolic phenotype may optimize the therapeutic potential of fasting for gut and metabolic health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590262825000425Ramadan fastingIntermittent fastingGut-microbiotaMicrobial metabolitesEnergy levelsHealth status
spellingShingle Sumel Ashique
Biplab Debnath
Naheed Mojgani
Mohd. Tariq
Tanweer Haider
Eman Shorog
Sabina Yasmin
Anas Islam
Himanshu Sharma
Md Sadique Hussain
Ayush Madan
Tabarak Malik
Mohammad Yousuf Ansari
Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
Current Research in Biotechnology
Ramadan fasting
Intermittent fasting
Gut-microbiota
Microbial metabolites
Energy levels
Health status
title Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
title_full Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
title_fullStr Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
title_full_unstemmed Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
title_short Gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
title_sort gut microbiota modulation and health benefits of various fasting regimens
topic Ramadan fasting
Intermittent fasting
Gut-microbiota
Microbial metabolites
Energy levels
Health status
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590262825000425
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