Using Intermittent Fasting as a Non-pharmacological Strategy to Alleviate Obesity-Induced Hypothalamic Molecular Pathway Disruption

Luciana da Costa Oliveira; Gustavo Paroschi Morais; Eduardo R Ropelle; Leandro P de Moura; Dennys E Cintra; José R Pauli; Ellen C de Freitas; Rodrigo Rorato; Adelino Sanchez R da Silva

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.858320

Using Intermittent Fasting as a Non-pharmacological Strategy to Alleviate Obesity-Induced Hypothalamic Molecular Pathway Disruption

Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 30:9:858320. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.858320. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Luciana da Costa Oliveira¹, Gustavo Paroschi Morais¹, Eduardo R Ropelle², Leandro P de Moura², Dennys E Cintra², José R Pauli², Ellen C de Freitas³, Rodrigo Rorato⁴, Adelino Sanchez R da Silva^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Exercise, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Postgraduate Program in Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Stress Neuroendocrinology, Department of Biophysics, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular intervention used to fight overweight/obesity. This condition is accompanied by hypothalamic inflammation, limiting the proper signaling of molecular pathways, with consequent dysregulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. This mini-review explored the therapeutic modulation potential of IF regarding the disruption of these molecular pathways. IF seems to modulate inflammatory pathways in the brain, which may also be correlated with the brain-microbiota axis, improving hypothalamic signaling of leptin and insulin, and inducing the autophagic pathway in hypothalamic neurons, contributing to weight loss in obesity. Evidence also suggests that when an IF protocol is performed without respecting the circadian cycle, it can lead to dysregulation in the expression of circadian cycle regulatory genes, with potential health damage. In conclusion, IF may have the potential to be an adjuvant treatment to improve the reestablishment of hypothalamic responses in obesity.

Keywords: hypothalamic inflammation; hypothalamus; intermittent fasting (IF); non-pharmaceutical intervention; obesity.

Publication types

Review