The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

Spanaki, Cleanthe; Rodopaios, Nikolaos E.; Koulouri, Alexandra-Aikaterini; Pliakas, Triantafyllos; Papadopoulou, Sousana K.; Vasara, Eleni; Skepastianos, Petros; Serafeim, Tatiana; Boura, Iro; Dermitzakis, Emmanouil T.; Kafatos, Anthony

doi:10.3390/nu13020627

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Such a nutrient composition makes the diet enriched in fibers and folates while the amount of saturated fatty acids is significantly lowered (Rodopaios et al, 2019). Spanaki et al (2021) evaluated the cognitive profile of people following the COC fasting diet vs a group not adhering to it. The authors reported decreased levels of anxiety and depression and better cognitive performances in the COC fasting diet group.…”

Section: Diet and Brain Function Of Healthy Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intermittent fasting has been described for its potent impact on metabolic improvements and global health benefits (Mattson et al, 2017(Mattson et al, , 2018Mattson, 2019). The study of Spanaki et al (2021) on COC fasting diet resumes the intermittent fasting benefits while also providing evidence for a cognitive improvement even in healthy people.…”

Section: Diet and Brain Function Of Healthy Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutritional Impact on Metabolic Homeostasis and Brain Health

Carneiro

Pellerin

2022

Front. Neurosci.

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Aging in modern societies is often associated with various diseases including metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. In recent years, researchers have shown that both dysfunctions are related to each other. Although the relationship is not fully understood, recent evidence indicate that metabolic control plays a determinant role in neural defects onset. Indeed, energy balance dysregulation affects neuroenergetics by altering energy supply and thus neuronal activity. Consistently, different diets to help control body weight, blood glucose or insulin sensitivity are also effective in improving neurodegenerative disorders, dampening symptoms, or decreasing the risk of disease onset. Moreover, adapted nutritional recommendations improve learning, memory, and mood in healthy subjects as well. Interestingly, adjusted carbohydrate content of meals is the most efficient for both brain function and metabolic regulation improvement. Notably, documented neurological disorders impacted by specific diets suggest that the processes involved are inflammation, mitochondrial function and redox balance as well as ATP production. Interestingly, processes involving inflammation, mitochondrial function and redox balance as well as ATP production are also described in brain regulation of energy homeostasis. Therefore, it is likely that changes in brain function induced by diets can affect brain control of energy homeostasis and other brain functions such as memory, anxiety, social behavior, or motor skills. Moreover, a defect in energy supply could participate to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Among the possible processes involved, the role of ketone bodies metabolism, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, oxidative stress and inflammation or epigenetic regulations as well as gut-brain axis and SCFA have been proposed in the literature. Therefore, the goal of this review is to provide hints about how nutritional studies could help to better understand the tight relationship between metabolic balance, brain activity and aging. Altogether, diets that help maintaining a metabolic balance could be key to both maintain energy homeostasis and prevent neurological disorders, thus contributing to promote healthy aging.

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Section: Diet and Brain Function Of Healthy Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diet and Brain Function Of Healthy Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Impact on Metabolic Homeostasis and Brain Health

Carneiro

Pellerin

2022

Front. Neurosci.

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“…An interesting finding of the present study is that Orthodox fasters continued to improve their irisin status, even after the end of fasting and up to the end of the follow-up period, despite adopting their standard eating habits after week 7. Previous research has associated the adoption of OF with improved life satisfaction and wellbeing [36] and decreased prevalence of depression and anxiety [37]. Thus, we speculate that for the above-mentioned reasons, in conjunction with their strong religious beliefs, some of the participants in the OF group preferred not to entirely abandon OF and incorporated elements of this diet into their habitual nutritional plans even during the non-fasting period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Effects of Christian Orthodox Fasting Versus Time-Restricted Eating on Plasma Irisin Concentrations Among Overweight Metabolically Healthy Individuals

et al. 2021

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Irisin has been recently identified as an adipomyokine produced during physical activity and involved in the browning of adipose tissue. Despite the emerging evidence suggesting an inverse relationship between irisin plasma concentrations and adverse metabolic outcomes, the exact impact of diet on irisin levels remains obscure. Thus, we aimed to assess the effects of two dietary patterns, Christian Orthodox fasting (OF) and 16:8 time-restricted eating (TRE), on circulating irisin levels among overweight, metabolically healthy, adults. Plasma irisin, glucose and lipid parameters, calcium homeostasis, and anthropometry were evaluated in 29 Orthodox fasters and 14 age and body mass index (BMI)-matched TRE controls (mean age and BMI, 48.8 years and 28.7 kg/m2, respectively) at three, distinct time points—before the implementation of the energy-restricted diets (baseline), at the end of the dietary intervention (7 weeks) and 5 weeks after participants returned to their typical dietary habits (12 weeks from baseline). Repeated measures analysis was applied to assess differences between the two groups and the effect of several indices on irisin levels at all three time points. At 12 weeks, the OF group manifested higher irisin concentrations compared with both its baseline values (64.3 ± 54.4 vs. 43.6 ± 42.2 ng/mL, p = 0.01) and those of the TRE group at the same time point (64.3 ± 54.4 vs. 44.2 ± 26.6 ng/mL, p = 0.04). Glycemic, lipid, and anthropometric parameters were not found to correlate with irisin levels. In contrast, parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations at 12 weeks correlated with irisin concentrations (p = 0.04), indicating that lower values of irisin are expected for higher PTH measurements. The findings of this pilot study suggest favorable long-term effects of OF on irisin levels. The interplay between irisin, PTH, and diet warrants further investigation.

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“…The effect of COC fasting on cognitive function and emotional wellbeing of healthy adults was evaluated by Spanki et al ( 161 ). Two groups of fasting ( n = 105) and non-fasting ( n = 107) individuals were evaluated regarding their cognitive performance using the Mini Mental Examination Scale and the presence of anxiety and depression using, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively.…”

Section: Greek Orthodox Christian Fastingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious fasting and its impacts on individual, public, and planetary health: Fasting as a “religious health asset” for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society

Trabelsi

Ammar²,

Boujelbane³

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

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Religious fasting is practiced by people of all faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Taoism. Individual/clinical, public, global, and planetary health has traditionally been studied as separate entities. Nevertheless, religious fasting, in conjunction with other religious health assets, can provide several opportunities, ranging from the individual to the population, environmental, and planetary levels, by facilitating and supporting societal transformations and changes, such as the adoption of healthier, more equitable, and sustainable lifestyles, therein preserving the Earth's systems and addressing major interconnected, cascading, and compound challenges. In this review, we will summarize the most recent evidence on the effects of religious fasting, particularly Orthodox and Ramadan Islamic fasting, on human and public health. Further, we will explore the potential effects of religious fasting on tackling current environmental issues, with a special focus on nutrition/food restriction and planetary health. Finally, specific recommendations, particularly around dietary intake during the fasting rituals, will be provided to ensure a sustainable healthy planet.

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The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

Cited by 11 publications

References 52 publications

Nutritional Impact on Metabolic Homeostasis and Brain Health

Nutritional Impact on Metabolic Homeostasis and Brain Health

Effects of Christian Orthodox Fasting Versus Time-Restricted Eating on Plasma Irisin Concentrations Among Overweight Metabolically Healthy Individuals

Religious fasting and its impacts on individual, public, and planetary health: Fasting as a “religious health asset” for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society

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