Effects of intermittent fasting on serum arginase-2 and IGF-1 levels

This study aimed at examining the effect of intermittent fasting on the levels of IGF-1, which play an important role in the growth and development and also plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of many chronic disease with arginase-2, which is thought to be associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, obesity and inflammation. The study was carried out with a total of 20 volunteer individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 years old, with no chronic conditions, BMI values ranging from 18 to 30. Volunteers involved in the study were time-restricted feeding, a type of intermittent fasting application consisting of food and beverage restrictions 16 hours a day for 3 weeks. Serum samples and anthropmetric measurements were taken before the intermittent fasting application of the participants (BIF), post (PIF) and after mid-term follow-up (AIF) (1 month after the end of intermittent fasting application). Arginase-2 and IGF-1 were measured by the ELISA method. All results obtained were analyzed with the SPSS 22.0 package program. When the body weights of the participants and body fat percentages were examined, a statistically significant decrease between BIF and PIF (p<0.05) and a significant increase between PIF and MTF (p<0.05) were found to have a statistically significant increase between BIF and PIF in IGF-1 values (p<0.05), while a statistically significant increase between BIF and PIF was detected, a significant reduction was detected between PIF and AIF (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant change in arginase-2 levels (p>0.05). However, a strong correlation was detected between IGF-1 and Arginase-2 before, after and after 1 month of follow-up. Intermittent fasting is an effective practice in reducing body weight and body fat. The effects of intermittent fasting on the body may be taking place through an increasing IGF-1 level.