International consensus on fasting terminology.

Sousana K Papadopoulou, Emily N C Manoogian, Alan C Goldhamer, Jost Langhorst, Kelsey Gabel, Satchidananda Panda, Hanno Pijl, Mark P Mattson, Michael Boschmann, Nicola L Bragazzi, Holger Cramer, Eric Ravussin, Benjamin D Horne, Spyridon N Karras, Rainer Stange, Andreas Michalsen, Anika Rajput Khokhar, Ioannis-Eleemon Papagiannopoulos-Vatopaidinos, Maria Papagiannopoulou, Lilian Adamidou, Melika Chihaoui, Nikolaos E Rodopaios, Claudio Vernieri, Martin M Grajower, Eva Lischka, Martha Ritzmann-Widderich, Valter Longo, Christian Kessler, Courtney M Peterson, Frank Madeo, Krista Varady, J Brent Muhlestein, Richard J Bloomer, Nader Lessan, Sarah J Mitchell, Grant Tinsley, Sebastian Brandhorst, Mohamed Hassanein, Daniela A Koppold, Carolin Breinlinger, Rafael de Cabo, Leonie Heilbronn, Michelle Harvie, Etienne Hanslian

Journal: Cell metabolism 2024;36(8):1779-1794.e4

PMID: 39059384

Abstract

Although fasting is increasingly applied for disease prevention and treatment, consensus on terminology is lacking. Using Delphi methodology, an international, multidisciplinary panel of researchers and clinicians standardized definitions of various fasting approaches in humans. Five online surveys and a live online conference were conducted with 38 experts, 25 of whom completed all 5 surveys. Consensus was achieved for the following terms: "fasting" (voluntary abstinence from some or all foods or foods and beverages), "modified fasting" (restriction of energy intake to max. 25% of energy needs), "fluid-only fasting," "alternate-day fasting," "short-term fasting" (lasting 2-3 days), "prolonged fasting" (≥4 consecutive days), and "religious fasting." "Intermittent fasting" (repetitive fasting periods lasting ≤48 h), "time-restricted eating," and "fasting-mimicking diet" were discussed most. This study provides expert recommendations on fasting terminology for future research and clinical applications, facilitating communication and cross-referencing in the field.

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Address: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-Based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, 14109 Berlin, Germany; Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.; Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-Based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, 14109 Berlin, Germany.; Institute for General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health, Bosch Health Campus, Stuttgart, Germany.; Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.; Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.; Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; IFOM ETS, the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.; College of Health Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.; Experimental & Clinical Research Center - A joint co-operation between Charité Universitätsmedizin und Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Clinical Research Unit, Berlin, Germany.; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Longevity Institute, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.; TrueNorth Health Foundation, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA; TrueNorth Health Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA.; Division of Endocrinology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY, USA.; Prevent Breast Cancer Research Unit, The Nightingale Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, England; Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, England.; Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Nutrition, Metabolism & Gut Health, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia.; Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.; Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Aristotle University, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece.; Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine, Sozialstiftung Bamberg Hospital, Bamberg, Germany; Department for Integrative Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical Faculty, Bamberg, Germany.; Klinik Buchinger Wilhelmi, Überlingen, Germany.; BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria; Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.; Ludwig Princeton Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.; Vatopaidi Monastery Hospital, 63086 Mount Athos, Greece.; Medical Office for Fasting Therapy, Danaedon 24A, Chalandri, 15232 Athens, Greece.; Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.; Praxis für Ernährungsmedizin und Prävention in Rottweil, Hochbrücktorstraße 22, 78628 Rottweil, Germany.; Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.; Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital La Rabta, Faculty of medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.; Experimental Gerontology Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Dubai Hospital, Dubai Academic Health Cooperation, United Arab Emirates.; The Research Institute, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.; IFOM ETS, the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy; Longevity Institute, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Regulatory Biology Department, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.; The Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT, USA.; Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.; Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Iraklion, Greece.
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