An Exploratory Clinical Study on Autophagy During Fasting
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04739852 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : February 5, 2021
Last Update Posted : December 13, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Arthritis, Rheumatoid Syndrome, Metabolic Healthy | Other: Fasting | Not Applicable |
Therapeutic fasting has been used for many decades in naturopathy and integrative medicine clinically successfully in the treatment of chronic diseases and pain syndromes. In particular, fasting therapy is used for chronic rheumatic, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases with increasing patient demand in specialized clinical facilities (fasting clinics).
Within the various historically developed forms of fasting, the fasting program according to the Buchinger Wilhelmi method has established itself worldwide as the most frequently applied method. This involves a subtotal caloric restriction with a daily caloric intake (200-400kcal/day) in the form of liquid components over a defined period of at least 10 days, accompanied by supporting measures of a health-promoting lifestyle program with elements such as exercise therapy, manual procedures, stress reduction and hydro-balneotherapy.
In early randomized studies and a systematic review, the effectiveness of inpatient fasting therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis was proven with 1a evidence. For the other indications, there is mainly empirical evidence or data from observation or prospective uncontrolled studies. In recent years, extensive basic science research activity has developed in the area of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. In this context, a large number of favorable animal experimental findings have been demonstrated by defined fasting periods, including reductions in insulin, IGF-1, increases in adiponectins, insulin sensitivity, neurotrophic factors, and, over longer observation periods, a decrease in the incidence of cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic, and more recently oncological diseases in a wide variety of animal species.
Numerous experimental studies have demonstrated that fasting or total or subtotal caloric restriction is a potent inducer of cellular autophagy. For autophagy, numerous beneficial effects on chronic diseases or disease defense functions have now been experimentally documented and also hypothesized for humans, including neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, but also acute infections and inflammatory diseases. Unclear to date is the kinetics of the autophagy enhancing effect of fasting. In theoretical transfer from animal experimental data, an increase is postulated between 12 and 36h of fasting and possibly a decrease after several days.
Against this background, autophagy will now be investigated for the first time in blood samples from fasting healthy and diseased individuals in an exploratory clinical study.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | 3 groups of different inclusion criteria (healthy, metabolic syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis) undergoing the same intervention |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Official Title: | The Kinetics of Autophagy During Periodic Fasting in Healthy People and Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis or Metabolic Syndrome - an Exploratory Clinical Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 1, 2021 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | February 1, 2025 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 1, 2025 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Healthy Participants |
Other: Fasting
Patients undergo a 5-10 day fasting period with a dietary energy supply 350-400kcal per day with fruit and vegetable juices or, if not feasible, an established fasting-mimicking diet of 600-800 kcal according to Longo et al. |
Active Comparator: Metabolic Syndrome |
Other: Fasting
Patients undergo a 5-10 day fasting period with a dietary energy supply 350-400kcal per day with fruit and vegetable juices or, if not feasible, an established fasting-mimicking diet of 600-800 kcal according to Longo et al. |
Active Comparator: Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Other: Fasting
Patients undergo a 5-10 day fasting period with a dietary energy supply 350-400kcal per day with fruit and vegetable juices or, if not feasible, an established fasting-mimicking diet of 600-800 kcal according to Longo et al. |
- Exploratory Proteomics of Autophagy Processes I [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]- Change in protein levels of autophagy biomarkers (LC3II & p62) of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) by Western Blotting, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up
- Exploratory Proteomics of Autophagy Processes II [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]- Change in protein levels and protein phosphorylation by untargeted mass spectrometry-based proteomics and phosphoproteomics of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up
- Muscle mass [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Estimation of the body composition via bio-electrical impedance analysis (muscle mass in kg)
- Body fat [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Estimation of the body composition via bio-electrical impedance analysis (body fat and visceral fat in %)
- Resting blood pressure [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Cutaneous carotenoid level (CCL) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Cutaneous carotenoid level (CCL), correlating with the overall antioxidant status, measured with a noninvasive skin carotenoid sensor (Biozoom®)
- Heart rate [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Waist to Hip Ratio [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Body Mass Index (kg/m2) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28-CRP) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in the DAS-28-CRP, range from 2.0 to 10.0 while higher values meaning a higher disease activity and below of 2.6 meaning remission
- Health Assessement Questionnaire (HAQ) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in the HAQ, range from 0 to 3 while higher values meaning a higher grade of disability
- Simplified Disease Activity Index Score (SDAI) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in the SDAI, range from 0 to 86 with assumed range from 0.1 to 10mg/dL for CRP. Higher values mean a higher disease activity and below of 34 meaning remission.
- Stress questionnaire (Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, CPSS) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in the CPSS, range from 0 to 4 in each item. Scores are obtained by reversing responses (e.g., 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1 & 4 = 0) to the positively stated items and then summing across all scale items, higher values meaning a higher grade of perceived stress.
- Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Assessing full scale, range from 15 to 90, higher score values meaning a better outcome.
- Numerical Analog Scales [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Assessing stress, back pain, headache, shoulder/neck tension, sleep quality and duration, exhaustion, nervousness, digestive complaints, mood on 0-10 points each.
- Quality of Life questionnaire (WHO-5) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in the WHO-5, range from 0 to 100 %, higher values meaning a higher grade of well-being
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Assessing full scale, range 0-42, lower score meaning a better outcome
- General Self-efficacy Short Scale (ASKU) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Assessing full scale, range 3-15, higher score meaning a better outcome
- Mood questionnaire (Profile of Mood States, POMS) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change from Baseline in Emotional Distress will be measured using the German Version of the Profile of Mood States (ASTS) short version (19 items, 7-point Likert scale; 0=not at all, 6=extremely). Lower scores indicate more stable mood profiles.
- Sociodemographic Measurements [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline) ]Age, gender, education level, household income, employment status, marital status, language spoken, complete family history, current and previous illness and co-morbidities, and current medications
- Behavioral Factors [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Physical inactivity, coffee, health promoting activities via Likert Scales, range from 0 to 5 while higher values meaning a higher grade of agreement
- Behavioral Factors: alcohol consumption [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), after 2 and 6 weeks ]Number of alcoholic beverages on average per week in the last month
- Behavioral Factors: smoking [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), after 2 and 6 weeks ]Number of cigarettes on average per week in the last month
- Behavioral Factors: fasting experience [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline) ]Type, definition, duration and date of previous fasting experiences
- Expectation questions [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline) ]For fasting on a 5-point likert scale from 1 (nothing at all) to 5 (very strong)
- Creatinine in µmol per liter (µmol/L) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in milliliter per minute (mL/min) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- Electrolytes [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]potassium (mmol/L) sodium (mmol/L)
- Blood lipids and fasting glucose [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]triglycerides (mmol/L) total cholesterol (mmol/L) LDL (mmol/L) HDL (mmol/L) fasting glucose (mmol/L)
- Insulin (mU/L) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]
- ß-Hydroxybutyrate [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate change in ketone body production by POCT
- CrP (mg/L) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate change in CrP levels in participants with RA
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in millimeters per hour (mm/h) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate change in ESR in participants with RA
- Rheumatoid factor (RF, IgM) (U/mL) [ Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline) ]Evaluate RF status in participants with RA
- Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACPA) (U/mL) [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate change in ACPA levels in participants with RA
- Metabolic processes [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Targeted and quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry of change in metabolites of plasma, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up
- Lipid profiling [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Targeted and quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry of change in plasma lipids, change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up
- Transcription expression patterns [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Change of the gene expression profile by RNA sequencing of isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up
- Proteome/phosphoproteome/ubiquitinome patterns [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate proteome expression patterns through blood based proteome, phosphoproteome, and ubiquitinome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention
- Epigentic patterns [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate epigentic methylation patterns through blood based epigenome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention
- Exosomal protein patterns [ Time Frame: change from baseline over 5 fasting days, to day 3 refeeding and to 7 days follow up ]Evaluate exosomal protein content through blood based metabolome analysis assessed prior to intervention (pre) vs. after 5-day fasting, day 2 of refeeding and 7 days post intervention
- Final questionnaire to record tolerability of fasting and nutrition, adverse effects [ Time Frame: After 6 weeks ]Measurement of tolerability of fasting and nutrition as well as adverse effects via Likert Scales, range from 0 to 5 while higher values meaning a higher grade of agreement

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- One of the following diagnoses: rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome OR healthy volunteer
- Beginning (first 24h) inpatient treatment or hospital stay at Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Department of Naturopathy OR healthy volunteer
- Present written declaration of consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Insufficient linguistic communication
- Dementia or other cognitive disorder
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04739852
Contact: Nadine Sylvester | +4930 80505 734 | nadine.sylvester@immanuelalbertinen.de |
Germany | |
Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde der Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin am Immanuel-Krankenhaus | Recruiting |
Berlin, Germany, 14109 | |
Contact: Miriam Rösner, Study nurse 00493080505682 miriam.roesner@immanuel.de | |
Principal Investigator: Andreas Michalsen, Prof. Dr. |
Principal Investigator: | Andreas Michalsen, Prof. Dr. | Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin | |
Study Director: | Nils Gassen, Dr. | Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy University Bonn, Clinical Centre |
Responsible Party: | Andreas Michalsen, Prof. Dr. med., Charite University, Berlin, Germany |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04739852 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Autophagy Fasting |
First Posted: | February 5, 2021 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | December 13, 2022 |
Last Verified: | December 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Fasting Autophagy |
Arthritis Arthritis, Rheumatoid Metabolic Syndrome Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases |
Rheumatic Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases Insulin Resistance Hyperinsulinism Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases |