Effects of subtotal fasting on plasmatic coagulation, fibrinolytic status and platelet activation: a controlled pilot study in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
There is considerable controversy as to whether fasting can be recommended to patients with cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether a well-known method of 1-week subtotal fasting affects hemostasis in healthy subjects.


RESULTS
Analyses were carried out before, four times during and 3 days after fasting in 12 fasting subjects (< 300 kcal/day, only from carbohydrates) (group 1), and 8 control subjects (group 2). Plasmatic coagulation (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, p < or = 0.001) and fibrinolysis (plasminogen, plasmin-antiplasmin-complex, p < 0.05) increased during fasting but remained within the normal limits. While the platelet count was similar in both groups, platelet sensitivity to stimulators was reduced in group 1 (P-selectin and activated GP IIb/IIIa on ADP-stimulated platelets, p < or = 0.01). Furthermore, soluble P-selectin (p < or = 0.01) and C-reactive protein were decreased in comparison to group 2 (p < or = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hemostasis and inflammation parameters during 1-week subtotal fasting do not imply an increase in cardiovascular risk.
Huber
Roman
R
Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. rhuber@med1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Nauck
Markus
M
Basler
Nicole
N
Haas
Brigitte
B
Mattern
Margarete
M
Lüdtke
Rainer
R
Peter
Karlheinz
K
D000328:Adult; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012307:Risk Factors