Intermittent Fasting-Protein Pacing Diet Reduces Abdominal Fat Compared to a Heart Healthy Diet

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Vol. 29; p. 119
• Main Authors: Arciero, Paul, Arciero, Karen, Poe, Michelle, Gumpricht, Eric, Mohr, Alex, Ives, Stephen, Furlong, Olivia, Boyce, Molly, Haas, Melissa, Smith, Annika, Zhang, Jin, Valdez, Emma, Corbet, Delaney, Judd, Kaitlyn, Arciero, Autumn, Outekhine, Anastasia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Silver Spring Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Body composition; Diet; Overweight; Proteins; Women
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X

Background: Previous research supports combined Protein Pacing (PP) and Intermittent Fasting (IF; 1 d/week) with moderate caloric deficit (25%) to enhance weight loss and body composition in overweight adults (Arciero et al. 2016). Limited data is available supporting efficacy of combined PP- I F diet (1-2 day IF) compared to commonly prescribed heart healthy (HH) diet, in overweight adults. Moreover, less is known whether a low sugar intake with these dietary patterns induces further benefit.The purpose of this study was to compare a PP-IF versus a HH diet, both low in sugar, on total and regional body composition, during an 8 week weight loss period. Methods: Forty overweight (50.1 +/- 1.5 years, 168.3 +/- 1.5 cm, 93.4 +/- 3.6 kg, 43.7 +/- 1.1 % fat) women (n = 26) and men (n = 14) were divided into 3 groups: 1) PP-IF1 (n = 11); 6 days of PP, 1 day of IF during weeks 1-8; 2) PP-IF2 (n = 10); 5 days of PP, 2 days of IF during weeks 1-4, followed by 6 days of PP and 1 day of IF during weeks 5-8; and 3) HH (n = 19); <35% fat kcals; 50%-60% carbohydrates; <200 mg/dL of dietary cholesterol; 20-30 g/day of fiber, and 1200/1500 kcals/day women and men, respectively. In order to match calorie deficit of HH, PP-IF consumed 1500/1800 kcals/day on PP days, women and men, respectively, and 350-450 kcals on IF days. Body weight (kg), BMI, waist circumference (cm), body composition (iDXA), macronutrient intake (kcals/grams), physical activity (PA, kcals/day; accelerometer), insulin (INS), IGF-1, BDNF, and hunger ratings (visual analog scales, 0-100 mm) were measured at baseline (week 0) and post intervention (week 9). Comparisons across interventions determined using 3 (group) X 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05) and Bonferroni adjusted pairwise comparisons. Results: PP- I F1 and 2 resulted in significantly greater reductions in body weight (p = 0.018), waist circumference (p = 0.009), BMI (p = 0.022), %body fat (p = 0.041), fat mass (p = 0.037), abdominal fat (p = 0.044) and sugar intake (grams/day, p = 0.005) compared to HH. Whereas, %fat-free mass (FFM/BW, p = 0.026) and protein intake (grams/day, p = 0.000) increased significantly in PP-IF1/2 compared to HH. Total kcals, carbs, fats, PA, INS, IGF-1, BDNF, hunger were not different among groups. Conclusions: PP-IF remains a superior nutrition intervention to enhance body composition in overweight adults and appears to be mediated via macronutrient quality.