‘Fasting may boost stem cell regeneration’

‘Fasting may boost stem cell regeneration’

What has happened?

A 24-hour fast may reverse the age-related loss of stem cell function that regenerates new intestinal cells, according to a study.

It breaks down fatty acids, not glucose

• Researchers, including those from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S., found that fasting dramatically improves stem cells’ ability to regenerate, in both aged and young mice
• In fasting mice, cells begin breaking down fatty acids instead of glucose, a change that stimulates the stem cells to become more regenerative.
• The researchers found that they could also boost regeneration with a molecule that activates the same metabolic switch.
• Such an intervention could potentially help older people recovering from gastrointestinal infections or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• Pharmacological targeting of this pathway may provide a therapeutic opportunity to improve tissue homeostasis in age-associated pathologies