Long-term fasting induces a remodelling of fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Long-term fasting (LF) activates an adaptative response to switch metabolic fuels from food glucose to lipids stored in adipose tissues. The increase in free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation during fasting triggers health benefits. We questioned if the changes in lipid metabolism during LF could affect lipids in cell membranes in humans. We thus analysed the FA composition in erythrocyte membranes (EM) during 12.6 ± 3.5 days of LF and 1 month after food reintroduction.

Methods

A total of 98 subjects out of three single-arm interventional studies underwent a medical supervised long-term fasting (12.6 ± 3.5 days) programme. The distribution pattern of 26 FA as well as the HS-Omega-3 Index were assessed in the EM using gas chromatography.

Results

Eighteen of 26 FA

SUBMITTER: Gewecke K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12011679 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature