title: Effects of subtotal fasting on plasmatic coagulation, fibrinolytic status and platelet activation: a controlled pilot study in healthy subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nauck
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basler
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattern
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lüdtke
authors.forename: Karlheinz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: 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