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The surprising cause of fasting’s regenerative powers

Post-fast feasting helps to activate stem cells in the gut but can also prompt development of precancerous growths, mouse research shows.
  1. Max Kozlov
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Breaking a fast carries more health benefits than the fasting itself, a study in mice shows1. After mice had abstained from food, stem cells surged to repair damage in their intestines — but only when the mice were tucking into their chow again, the study found.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02700-2

References

  1. Imada, S. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07840-z (2024).

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  2. Mihaylova, M. M. et al. Cell Stem Cell 22, 769–778 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Brandhorst, S. et al. Cell Metab. 22, 86–99 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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