Anthropometric, Hemodynamic, Metabolic, and Renal Responses during 5 Days of Food and Water Deprivation

TLDR

Little is known about how five days of food and water deprivation affect body circumferences and vital parameters, despite extensive research on fasting and fluid restriction. The study measured weight, multiple body circumferences, and hemodynamic, metabolic, and renal parameters daily over five days of deprivation in ten healthy adults, calculating circumference‑to‑weight decrease quotients to quantify compliance and efficacy. During the intervention participants lost an average of 1.39 kg, maintained stable vital signs, experienced a 167 % increase in creatinine clearance, and showed significant reductions in all measured circumferences, indicating safety and effective weight loss.

Abstract

Although there is considerable research in the field of fasting and fluid restriction, little is known about the impact of food and water deprivation (FWD) on body circumferences and vital parameters.During 5 days of FWD in 10 healthy adults, hemodynamic, metabolic, and renal parameters, such as weight, 5 circumferences at neck, waist, hip, chest at axilla, chest at nipples, and 1 new oblique hip circumference were measured daily. For each circumference, new quotients of daily circumference-to-weight decrease were calculated. The set of employed parameters quantified and monitored dieting persons' compliance and efficacy of the method.The values of blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, glucose, K(+), Na(+), Cl(-), urea, creatinine, and serum osmolality proved to be stable. The mean creatinine clearance increased up to 167%. The mean daily weight decrease (1,390 ± 60 g) demonstrated the effectiveness of FWD in weight reduction. The daily decrease of all measured circumferences and the values of the corresponding circumference-to-weight decrease quotients reflected considerable volume decrease in all measured body parts per day and kg of weight loss during FWD.The intervention of 5 FWD days in 10 healthy adults was found to be safe, decreased weight and all measured circumferences, and improved renal function considerably.