Background: Humans consuming a purified vegan diet known as the "Daniel Fast" realize favorable changes in blood lipids, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers, with subjective reports of improved physical capacity. Objective: We sought to determine if this purified vegan diet was synergistic with exercise in male rats. Methods: Long–Evans rats (n = 56) were assigned to be exercise trained (+E) by running on a treadmill three days per week at a moderate intensity or to act as sedentary controls with normal activity. After the baseline physical performance was evaluated by recording run time to exhaustion, half of the animals in each group were fed ad libitum for three months a purified diet formulated to mimic the Daniel Fast (DF) or a Western Diet (WD). Physical performance was evaluated again at the end of month 3, and body composition was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Blood was collected for measurements of lipids, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers. Results: Physical performance at the end of month 3 was higher compared to baseline for both exercise groups (p < 0.05), with a greater percent increase in the DF + E group (99%) than in the WD + E group (51%). Body fat was lower in DF than in WD groups at the end of month 3 (p < 0.05). Blood triglycerides, cholesterol, malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products were significantly lower in the DF groups than in the WD groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in cytokines levels between the groups (p > 0.05), although IL-1β and IL-10 were elevated three-fold and two-fold in the rats fed the WD compared to the DF rats, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to a WD, a purified diet that mimics the vegan Daniel Fast provides significant anthropometric and metabolic benefits to rats, while possibly acting synergistically with exercise training to improve physical performance. These findings highlight the importance of macronutrient composition and quality in the presence of ad libitum food intake.

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Plant-based nutrients have been studied for their potential impact on testosterone production in men. We investigated the influence of a novel passion flower extract on free testosterone in healthy men. In part one of this study, 18 younger men (35.9 ± 1.6 years) were assigned to consume placebo tablets or tablets containing a passion flower extract, in a random order, double-blind, cross-over design. The treatment period for each condition was 15 days, with a two-week washout period between conditions. Blood and saliva were collected both in the morning and the evening on days 1, 8, and 15-both before and one hour following ingestion of the assigned condition. In part two of this study, seven older men (55.9 ± 2.7 years) were assigned to consume the passion flower extract or placebo tablets in a random order, double-blind, cross-over design. The treatment period was the same as for part one and but only saliva was collected in the morning on days 1, 3, 8, and 15. All subjects completed a questionnaire on the morning of each test day to determine their subjective feelings associated with the condition treatment. Passion flower extract did not appear to influence free testosterone or subjective feelings in younger men. However, free salivary testosterone was increased an average of 13% in older men. In addition, an increase of 17% was noted from day 1 to day 15 for perceived energy level, while an increase of 9% was noted for libido when older men used the extract. A novel passion flower extract does not influence testosterone concentrations or subjective feelings in younger men but may have an influence on these outcomes in selected older men. It is possible that the treatment may be more effective when delivered to those with low baseline testosterone values.