Long-term fasting-induced parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic nervous system modulation in a subgroup of the GENESIS study
Authors' conclusion
These findings highlight fasting's potential for autonomic regulation and stress resilience, with implications for clinical applications in stress-related disorders.
Study context
- Population
- Participants from the GENESIS trial following the Buchinger fasting protocol
- Participants
- 16 participants
- Comparison
- During fasting vs before fasting
- Buchinger fastingn = 16
- Primary endpoint
- Daily heart rate variability (HRV) (Polar H10) as reflection of autonomic nervous system balance
- Follow-up
- Daily 7 days before, during and 7 days after fasting
Methodological detailssingle-group pre-post
- Single-group pre-post
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
HRV with fasting
Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) (parasympathetic activity) rose, p < 0.001
27.16 ± 10.5 to 32.92 ± 17.65 ms
Sympathetic activity decreased, p < 0.001
0.39 ± 0.83 to 0 ± 1.05
Further findings
Day-by-day sympathetic activation · early fasting phase
- Initial rise in sympathetic activation, p < 0.05
Mental well-being and sleep quality
- Mental well-being improved significantly, p < 0.05
- Sleep quality remained unchanged
Original publication
Long-term fasting-induced parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic nervous system modulation in a subgroup of the GENESIS study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 9 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →