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Ketosis in patients undergoing medically supervised therapeutic fasting—results from an observational trial

Abstract

Background/aim

Medically supervised fasting has long tradition and broad acceptance in some European countries. The exact amount to which ketone bodies are produced as well as their possible contribution to beneficial effects in this procedure are open.

Methods

Open-label observational trial with in-patients undergoing medically supervised fasting with supplementation of approximately 40 g/d carbohydrates as part of an established routine care. Daily finger-stick blood samples for measurement of glucose and ß-hydroxybutyrate. Descriptive analysis for all data.

Results

Complete sets of data of 17 patients (5 m, mean age 63.1) could be evaluated. Mean concentrations of ß-hydroxybutyrate rose continuously to a mean maximum of 3.6 mmol/L with an individual maximum of 5.1 mmol/L, while glucose decreased within normal range. Two patients with type 2 diabetes produced significantly less ß-hydroxybutyrate. Courses for ß-hydroxybutyrate and glucose showed a weak inverse correlation, while no serious adverse effects could be observed.

Conclusion

Medically supervised fasting with definite small amounts of carbohydrates by fluid intake may lead to limited increases of ketone bodies in their biopositive range, as known e.g. from epileptology or sports medicine. Clinical consequences deserve further research.

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Fig. 1: Course of glucose concentrations during fasting therapy.
Fig. 2: Course of ß-hydroxybutyrate concentrations during fasting therapy.

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Funding

Generous financial support was given by Familie-Deutsch-Stiftung Berlin, Germany, a non-profit foundation for support of research in natural medicine. This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by NuOmix-Research k.s. The conference was financially supported by Protina Pharmazeutische GmbH, Germany and Sirius Pharma, Germany, and organized by NuOmix-Research k.s. Neither company had any role in writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rainer Stange.

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Thaele-Franz, MA., Steckhan, N., Michalsen, A. et al. Ketosis in patients undergoing medically supervised therapeutic fasting—results from an observational trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 74 (Suppl 1), 43–47 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0694-4

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