The Effect of Intermittent Fasting and Water Deprivation on Brain Growth Factors

Objectives: Intermittent fasting has beneficial effects on health through changing the level of growth factors. Regarding the controversy in the effect of fasting on growth factors and the possible role of age and gender in this regard, we aimed to investigate the association between fasting (with or without water deprivation) and growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its precursor (proBDNF), as well as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 84 Wistar rats (21 male immature, 21 males mature, 21 female immature, and 21 females mature) were divided into 12 equal groups (n=7 in each) based on the treatment method (control/fasting with access to water/fasting without access to water). While control groups had free access to food and water, fasting groups were deprived from food or food and water for 12 hours a day. After three weeks of treatment, serum levels of BDNF, proBDNF, and GDNF were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and analyzed by SPSS Software version 13. Results: Fasting was associated with significantly higher levels of BDNF, proBDNF, and GDNF in male rats. Also, there was no significant difference when water deprivation was added to fasting. Conclusion: The effect of fasting on the levels of BDNF, proBDNF, and GDNF was gender-dependent and could be explained by the structural differences of brain tissues between male and female rats.