Reading Research Articles

Abstract

Purpose

Background/lit review summary

Study design

Experimental vs nonexperimental

Type?

Strength of study?

Methods

What stats methods used?

Methods sound?

n=

Population breakdown: age, gender, location, timeframe, etc.

Eligibility/exclusion criteria

What groups intervention group compared to?

Instrument validity?

Results

What were the findings?

Significant?

Strengths/weaknesses of study design

Are there similar comparable studies?

Implications for RD

Harris 2018 Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose

Background/lit review summary

Study design

Experimental vs nonexperimental

Type?

Strength of study?

Methods

What stats methods used?

Methods sound?

n=

Population breakdown: age, gender, location, timeframe, etc.

Eligibility/exclusion criteria

What groups intervention group compared to?

Instrument validity?

Results

What were the findings?

Significant?

Strengths/weaknesses of study design

Are there similar comparable studies?

Implications for RD

Systematic Review

To examine the effectiveness of intermittent energy restriction in tx for OW/OB in adults, when compared to usual care tx or no tx.

Inclusion: BMI >/= 25kg/m2
age >/= 18
min 12 weeks
randomized/pseudo-randomized controlled trials

Exclusion:

6 studies

IEF = </= 800kcal 1-6days/wk

no tx (ad libitum)

usual care tx (~25% kcal restriction

Outcomes:
Primary: Change in BW
anthro. outcomes (BMI, waist circ, fat mass, fat-free mass
cardio-metabolic outcomes (blood glu, insulin, lipid panel, BP
Lifestyle (phys act., QOL, adverse events

Effect sizes: weighted mean differences

ADF, 5:2. up to 4d/wk

Age

Gender

Location

Timeframe

3-12 mo

4 compared to continuous kcal restriction, 2 no control

Typical of what we see IRL.

EIF > ad libidum
EIF ~ CR

Yes

IER > usual care - consistent

Str:

only used experimental/pseudo-experimental design, which are less likely to be biased than observational, etc.

Weak:

no sensitivity/subgroup analysis d/t small sample size

high attrition rates in studies reviewed

uncertain observer blinding in most studies

majority of studies are on female pts only

highlights need for studies on broader population

5-7% reduction in BW -> health benefits
-> studies seem to show it (not directly reported)

INTRO

importance of tx OB
-> % of adults w/ OW/OB, %OB

incr risk of DM2, CVA, etc.

many lifestyle interventions, little clinical impact
fad diets need to be reviewed

IF

types: 5:2,
ADF
IER 2-6d/wk

overall: normal kcal intake + short periods of severe calorie restriction/fasting

many studies are on animals

usual care: continuous energy restriction (CER)
600kcal/d restriction

need citation

Tinsley 2015

Abstract

Purpose: examine studies conducted on intermittent fasting programs to determine if they are effective at improving body composition and clinical health markers associated with disease

Background/lit review summary

Study design

Experimental vs nonexperimental

Type?

Strength of study?

Methods

What stats methods used?

Methods sound?

n=21

Population breakdown: age, gender, location, timeframe, etc.

Eligibility/exclusion criteria

What groups intervention group compared to?

Instrument validity?

Results

What were the findings?

Significant?

Strengths/weaknesses of study design

Are there similar comparable studies?

Implications for RD

time-restricted feeding

20:4 (isocaloric)
only 1 study reviewed

higher lipid panel except for TG

high attrition rate

meals were provided; likely that ppl would undereat calories if left to their own devices

16:8

no studies reviewed

most conservative: skip breakfast, don't eat after dinner

metabolic changes?

fasting periods 16h~1.5days

early fasting state (12-18h w/o food)
to
earlier stages of fasting state (18h-2d w/o food)

different outcomes for one-time short fast vs habitual short-term fasts

substrate use

v glu -> ^ FA w/i 24hr

see soeters et al

BG concentrations decline

lipolysis/b-oxidation incr

d/t reduced plasma insulin concentration, incr sympathetic nervous system activity, higher concentration of growth hormone?

need citation (see 38, 49 in references)

events **

(see klein et al)rate of FA incr greatest 12-24hr
account for 50-60% of total glycerol incr during 72hr fast

18-24hr - 50% incr in fat oxidation
50% decr glu oxidation

12-72hr - plasma insulin decr
(70% in 1st 24hr)

glucagon rises after 3 days

epinephrine/cortisol unchanged

but lipolytic response to epinephrine infusion incr @ 2-3d fasting?

benefit of this?
see klein et al

include significance of glucagon increase, metabolically
references listed on top left of p671

protein catabolism?

concern: protein breakdown, loss of lean body mass

observed, but mostly in overnight fast -> 60+ hr.

since duration of fasts is typically shorter, possible that protein breakdown not seen

citation 43 - urea nitrogen not incr at 36hr but incr at 60hr

soeters et al: ST ADF (20hfast-28hfeed) did not alter protein metabolism in lean healthy men

not many studies detailing how this is dif between NW vs OW/OB individuals

appears that protein catabolism incr @ 3rd day of fasting
at 2-3 days, energy mostly from glycogen breakdown / fat metabolism
see citation 30

resting metabolic rate

incr at 26-48hr?

so not really relevant here

discussion

IF programs are able to reduce BW/BF. - inconsistent

potential bias: publisher bias*

failure to report energy intake/energy expenditure

EF vs DCR

seem comparable, though results dif btwn indiv/btwn regimen

concerns

periods of semistarvation -> hyper plagic responses
-> incr fat mass

VLCD -> nutr deficiencies
-> electrolyte abnorm.
-> esp w/o medical supervision

sustainability/maintenance
->decr kcal -> promote wt gain after dieting? see citation 71

conc: advise appropriate supervision
no severe kcal restriction each day

review

not detailed

human clinical trials
M/F any age
study duration >3wk
n>10
complete/modified fasting
report BW/body composition
english

exclusion:
animal study
study <3wk
n<10
not english
religious fasting

ADF

whole-day fasting n-7

typical: alternate fasting w/ ad libitum days
fasting day = 1 meal at lunchtime, 25% EER

30-40hrs w/o food

modified fasting
-> really 2 separate fasting periods w/ small meal interruption
12-19hrs + 17-20hrs

Clinical markers

BW reduction, decr in fat mass
-> in normal->OB BMI ranges

fat-free mass: inconclusive

loss may be accelerated in ADF w/o modified fasting

lipid panel inconsistent

TChol, TG, LDL decr, in some studies

HDL mainly no change. incr maybe? and maybe only in women.

Some showed incr LDL

insulin resistance not observed or no change

*Most studies did not control for kcal intake

IF + kcal restriction

  • modified fasting by lowering small amounts of food intake on fasting days

clinical markers

BW/Body fat: reductions
= Usual Care

no intervention