Meta Information

ID:prolonged-fasting-supervised

Name:Prolonged Fasting (Supervised)

Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

• Therapeutic Fasting
• Extended Fasting
• Water Fasting (Supervised)

Active Compound

null

Intervention Type

dietary_practice

Delivery

Route:

none

Scope:

• systemic

Regulatory Status

• us:lifestyle_intervention
• eu:lifestyle_intervention

Indication

Focus:

healthspan

Description:

Promotes cellular repair, metabolic flexibility, and enhances autophagy for healthspan extension.

Typical Protocol

• Typically involves 3-5 days (72-120 hours) of water-only intake, sometimes with non-caloric fluids, under medical guidance.
• Often preceded and followed by a refeeding period with specific dietary considerations to mitigate refeeding syndrome risks.
• Frequency may range from once every few months to annually, depending on individual health status and goals.

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:

0

High Cost:

2000

Cost Type:

procedure

Description:

Varies from free (unsupervised) to significant costs for medical supervision; rarely covered by insurance for healthspan.

Summary

Prolonged fasting involves abstinence from caloric intake for typically 3-5 days, triggering systemic metabolic shifts. Key mechanisms include enhanced autophagy, which clears damaged cellular components, improved insulin sensitivity, and activation of stress response pathways that confer cellular resilience. These changes are believed to contribute to cellular rejuvenation and potentially slow aspects of biological aging.

Purpose

Induces metabolic shifts, autophagy, and cellular repair for healthy longevity.

Card Summary

Extended fasting promotes cellular cleanup, metabolic health, and resilience for healthier aging.

Drug Class

null

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:

7.5

Justification:

Robust metabolic and cellular effects; emerging human evidence for healthspan benefits.

Evidence

Grade:

B

Score:

6.5

Justification:

Human trials show metabolic benefits; long-term healthspan RCTs are limited.

Safety

Score:

5.5

Justification:

Requires medical supervision due to risks like electrolyte imbalance and refeeding syndrome.

Flags

• Not suitable for individuals with certain medical conditions, including advanced diabetes or eating disorders.
• Risk of electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, fatigue, and headache, particularly without proper supervision.
• Refeeding syndrome is a serious risk if not managed carefully post-fast.
• May interact with certain medications, requiring dosage adjustments or cessation.

Verdict

Supervised prolonged fasting significantly optimizes cellular health and metabolic resilience.