Effects of Short-Term Intermittent Fasting on Rat Body Weights
Brayden Quinby Mack, Jordyn Deason, Justin Roberts
A growing elderly population represents a challenge to the health care system in the future. There are several on-going research experiments examining an array of ideas, including diet, exercise, and pharmaceutical interventions, to see if there are “preventative” ways to keep the aging population healthy and out of the healthcare system. One promising method of staving off diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, and dementia is caloric restriction. In this study, the effects of intermittent fasting were observed on rats to determine if there are negative effects on the body weight. A loss of muscle mass for an elderly person puts them at a significant risk of falling and becoming injured. Observations were taken on two groups of 100-week-old rats, one fasted for 24 hours and one that was fed ad libitum. Body weight changes and food consumption were recorded before the fast, after 24 hours of fasting, and after 24 hours of refeeding of the fasted group. Both groups were able to maintain their body weight throughout the 48 hours. The results demonstrate that there was no observable negative repercussion on the rat’s health due to short-term fasting when compared to their body weight fluctuations.
Brayden Mack is a junior from Swansea S.C., that is majoring in chemistry with an emphasis in health sciences. He plans to graduate in spring 2025 and further his education in medical or optometry school. He is part of Lander University Honors College and Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.
Jordyn Deason is a junior biology major with an emphasis in pre-vet from McCormick, South Carolina. She is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society and a tutor at the ASC. When she is not on campus, she can be found volunteering at Greenwood Veterinary Hospital, working at Helios Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Center, giving softball lessons, or at home with her dog.
Justin Roberts is from Ninety Six, South Carolina and is currently pursuing a biology degree with minors in chemistry and psychology at Lander University. He enjoys nature, powerlifting, video games, and health related sciences. Justin plans to go to medical school and become an MD to further his knowledge of the human body and to continue research in aging and other vectors of health.