Dietary restriction modifies certain aspects of the postoperative acute phase response.
BACKGROUND
Lifespan extension is achieved through long-term application of dietary restriction (DR), and benefits of short-term dietary restriction on acute stress and inflammation have been observed. So far, the effects of short-term DR in humans are relatively unknown. We hypothesized that short-term DR in humans reduces the acute phase response following a well defined surgical trauma.


METHODS
Thirty live kidney donors were randomized between 30% preoperative dietary restriction followed by 1 d of fasting (n=17) or a 4 d ad libitum regimen (n=13) prior to surgery. Leukocyte subsets and numbers and serum cytokine levels were determined. Whole blood was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokine production was determined.


RESULTS
A clear trend towards lower numbers of postoperative circulating leukocytes was observed in the DR group. IL-8 serum levels were significantly higher in the DR group over the first 6 postoperative d (P=0.018). After LPS stimulation, significantly less TNF-α (P=0.001) was produced by blood obtained postoperatively compared with preoperative blood from the DR group. This was not observed in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
A relatively short preoperative dietary restriction regimen was able to modify certain aspects of the postoperative acute phase response. These data warrant further studies into the dietary conditions that improve stress resistance in humans. (Dutch Trial Registry number: NTR1875).
van Ginhoven
Tessa M
TM
Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Dik
Willem A
WA
Mitchell
James R
JR
Smits-te Nijenhuis
Marja A
MA
van Holten-Neelen
Conny
C
Hooijkaas
Herbert
H
Hoeijmakers
Jan H J
JH
de Bruin
Ron W F
RW
IJzermans
Jan N M
JN
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000379:methods*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D014019:Tissue Donors
D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein