The psychophysiological effects of a three day dry fast: A self-experimentation case study

Abstract

Background: A commonly held belief is that humans cannot survive more than a few days without fluid intake. The source of this is unclear, but does not accord with the few controlled studies that have been conducted to investigate the effects of fluid abstention, nor the few extreme cases of fluid restriction. Methods: This was a self-experimentation, with one day pre-load of fluid and salt (DAY 0), three days complete fluid abstention (< 45 g/d water from food only) (DAYS 1-3), and 24 h rehydration (DAY 4). Days ran from 1500 h to 1500 h. The following measures were taken across various time points across each day: body mass; urine volume; urine colour; urine specific gravity; finger-prick blood glucose concentration; blood pressure; pulse; body temperature; dietary intake; and visual analogue scales (VAS) of food-appetites (satiety and desires), thirst-appetites, mood, wakefulness, and sleep quality. Results: By the end of DAY 3, body water (excluding estimated lean/adipose loss from negative energy balance) decreased by ~1.8 % from 1500 h on DAY 0, or ~4.0 % from 1500 h on DAY 1 (after a fluid preload). With this reduction in body mass came expected reductions in urine volume and increased in urine colour, though trends in urine specific gravity were less pronounced. Blood pressure trended towards being lower during DAYS 1-3 and increased during DAY 4. Whole blood glucose concentrations also tended towards being lower during DAYS 1-3 compared to DAY 4, particularly postprandially. Hunger tended to be reduced during DAYS 1-3, but increased again during DAY 4. Wanting to eat appeared to be a separate construct to hunger/fullness. True-thirst was higher during DAYS 1-3 relative to DAY 4, and this synchronised well with true-xerostomia and ratings of dryness of lips. However, sensational-xerostomia was the dominant thirst experienced during DAY 1-3. Sadness was moderately inversely correlated with body mass loss (r = 0.57) and tiredness was strongly positively correlated (r = 0.94). Sleep quality was unrelated to hydration status. Conclusion: Overall, the expected changes occurred in terms of hydration physiology, but with some unexpected findings in terms of gluco-regulation, blood pressure, and thirst appetites.