Intermittent Fasting Diet Leads to Weak Immune System

A new research suggests that 'Intermittent Fasting', or '5:2' diet isn't a healthy way of losing weight.

The 5:2 diet or fast diet requires people to reduce calorie intake on two days of the week. Promoters of the diet say that it is easy to follow and helps reduce weight.

The fasting diet is also endorsed as a safe and effective way of reducing blood pressure, increasing lifespan and even losing weight.

Researchers at the University of Bath have found that calorie restriction is known to extend lifespan, but reducing food intake could lead to weaker immune system and a decreased ability to fight infection.

The study is published in the journal Evolution.

For the study, researchers looked at four stress and immunity genes in fruit flies that are associated with increase in lifespan. These genes are often cited by nutrition experts while promoting starvation diets.

Their research on the flies showed that exposure to a fungus led to an increase immune system response. The activation of immunity and stress related genes led to an increase in lifespan of the flies.

In the long run, the flies were left with a weak immune system, which affected their ability to fight infection. Researchers say that the genes that they studied are also found in humans, so the study findings might have implications for human health as well.

"Many studies have documented benefits of diet restriction and anti-oxidants consumption, but there is a lack of data on levels of illness in people administered these anti-ageing treatments," said Nick Priest, Lecturer in Biology & Biochemistry at the University, according to a news release. "We know that certain stresses such as starvation or exposure to pathogens can extend life and increase fertility, but we have found that ironically this has a trade-off in terms of immune function.