Fasten – ein potentes Therapeutikum der Moderne

Fasten als Therapie hat im letzten Jahrzehnt durch eine Fülle an Grundlagenstudien und experimentellen Arbeiten sowie zunehmende klinische Forschung seinen Einzug in die moderne Medizin gehalten. Es ist ein Verfahren mit jahrtausendealter Tradition und dadurch verschiedenartigen Durchführungsmöglichkeiten. Gemeinsam ist ihnen die Reduktion der täglichen Nahrungsaufnahme für begrenzte Zeit. Diese hat vielfältige Wirkungen auf Stoffwechsel, Zellen und Organsysteme, die es zu einem potenten Mittel im ärztlichen Handeln machen können.

Abstract

Therapeutic fasting has found its way into modern medicine in the last decade through a multitude of experimental work and animal studies as well as increasing clinical research. It is a procedure with a tradition dating back thousands of years and thus comes with a variety of different practices. What they all have in common, is the reduction of daily food intake for a limited period of time. This has a variety of effects on metabolism, cells and organ systems, which can make it a potent tool in medical practice.

Kernaussagen

• Fastenanwendungen können von kurzzeitigen Fastenperioden wie beim Intervallfasten bis hin zu mehrwöchigen Interventionen variieren und bei unterschiedlichen Diagnosen eingesetzt werden.

• Haupteffekte des Fastens auf molekularer und physiologischer Ebene beinhalten Ketogenese, Autophagie, Hormesis und Aktivierung von zellulären Reparaturmechanismen sowie die Reduktion von Wachstumshormonen und Inflammation.

• Fasten kann Verhaltensaspekte wie Selbstwirksamkeit und Genügsamkeit stärken.

• In Studien untersuchte Indikationen für therapeutisches Fasten sind bisher v. a. einige metabolische und autoimmune sowie bestimmte onkologische Erkrankungen. Außerdem werden positive Auswirkungen auf das psychische Befinden sowie das Darmmikrobiom und die Langlebigkeit postuliert und sind gegenwärtig Forschungsgegenstand.

• Durch begleitende Maßnahmen kann das Fasten angenehm und nebenwirkungsarm gestaltet sowie in seiner Wirksamkeit verstärkt werden.

• Im Praxisalltag sind beim Fasten einige Kontraindikationen sowie Risikoindikationen und Medikamenteninteraktionen zu berücksichtigen.

• Fasten als Intervention zeigt Wirksamkeit und Anwendbarkeit bei vielen chronischen Erkrankungen und verbessert Risikofaktoren derselben, sowohl in Grundlagen- als auch zunehmend in klinischen Studien.

• Forschungsbedarf besteht in der Erweiterung der Indikationsgebiete sowie der Spezifizierung von Fasteninterventionen für unterschiedliche Individuen und Diagnosen.

Schlüsselwörter

Heilfasten - Prävention - prolongiertes Fasten - Langlebigkeit - Autophagie - Prolonged Fasting - Therapeutic Fasting - Prevention - Longevity - Autophagy

Publication History

Article published online:
04 August 2023

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