Intermittent fasting is predicted to be the most popular dietary trend this year.
Factually speaking, today, it is even more popular than keto.
Intermittent fasting is also a topic that has been written extensively on, I have published a book on it, and even there are countless blog entries on my website
Today’s blog focuses on the research on intermittent fasting and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and the discussion hinges on “Is intermittent fasting good for the liver?”
Fasting, Fatty Liver, and the Mitochondria
Much of the research on intermittent fasting has focused on the possible advantages of fasting on the health and functioning of the mitochondria – a component of cells responsible for energy metabolism.
The influence of lifestyle measures on mitochondrial health has piqued the scientific community’s interest since mitochondria are increasingly considered to play a significant role in lifespan and chronic disease prevention.
Before we go any further, it is crucial to emphasize that the great majority of studies on intermittent fasting and mitochondria have been undertaken in animals. So we cannot make conclusive statements regarding this connection in humans just yet.
So, Where Does The Liver Fit In?
Scientists think faulty mitochondrial function plays a significant role in the development of NAFLD.
This argument is based on the fact that the mitochondria are in charge of fatty acid metabolism and that this problem partly causes NAFLD. This primarily happens because fat gets deposited in the liver- where it shouldn’t be.
We’ve looked at the relationship between fatty liver disease and mitochondria, as well as the significance of L-Carnitine and Saturated Fat.
- L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring molecule that transports fatty acids to the mitochondria for metabolization. When fatty liver disease patients are given a supplement, there is some indication that their liver health improves, lending validity to the association between mitochondria and liver health.
- Saturated fat: Saturated fat is commonly present in high-fat red meat and dairy products and may enhance liver fat storage in those with fatty liver diseases. According to preliminary research, this impact is partly caused by saturated fat, which may interfere with mitochondrial activity in people with NAFLD.
Human Research on Intermittent Fasting and Fatty Liver
Currently, the present rave around intermittent fasting has not been matched by an adequate quantity and quality of human research studying its effects. However, this fact is changing rapidly as public and scientific interest in this topic advances at a lightning-fast speed.
Intermittent fasting may reduce ALT and AST levels in people with fatty liver disease, according to a thorough review and meta-analysis published in Frontiers In Nutrition 2021.
The majority of studies in this meta-analysis were based on people fasting during Ramadan, which closely resembles the conventional 16:8 fasting regimen. In this fasting routine, a daily fast of roughly 16 hours is performed.
The association between Ramadan-type fasting and reductions in liver enzyme levels (AST, GGT, ALP) was verified in another 2021 comprehensive review and meta-analysis. This time the study got published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.
With regards to intermittent fasting for liver health, the mechanism of fasting had a little but statistically significant influence on these enzyme levels, according to the researchers.
Finally, researchers discovered that alternate-day fasting not only lowered liver enzyme levels but also improved several indications of liver fat buildup and scarring. This inference came up in a 2019 randomized controlled experiment published in Scientific Reports.
In all of the studies reviewed above, it’s difficult to declare with certainty that the effects achieved by these fasting regimens were independent of the weight reduction that the subjects experienced.
It has been proposed, but not yet proven, that IF might have some part in improving liver health separately from weight loss/calorie restriction because it changes the way the body uses energy and favors fat metabolism. This process theoretically improves the body’s capacity to break down extra stored liver fat that is labeled as NAFLD.
Of course, this is theoretical and must be firmly shown and confirmed in high-quality human trials.
Bottom Line
Intermittent fasting can have an impact on treating fatty liver and its function in highly beneficial ways.
While it may help lower the risk of fatty liver disease and improve liver enzymes, you should proceed with care if you have pre-existing liver issues. Before attempting intermittent fasting, consult your doctor to confirm it is safe and appropriate for your specific requirements.
