Study Reveals Risks of Intermittent Fasting for Teenagers, Impairing Insulin-Producing Cells

Study Reveals Risks of Intermittent Fasting for Teenagers, Impairing Insulin-Producing Cells

(IN BRIEF) A study by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), LMU Hospital Munich, and Helmholtz Munich found that while intermittent fasting benefits adult mice by improving insulin sensitivity, it harms beta cell development in adolescent mice, which could have implications for teenage metabolism and health. The research highlights that fasting led to impaired beta cell maturation in younger mice, resembling changes seen in type 1 diabetes. Experts caution that while intermittent fasting may be beneficial for adults, it poses risks for adolescents, urging further research into its molecular effects and the potential risks for young people.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 13-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A recent study from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), LMU Hospital Munich, and Helmholtz Munich has raised significant concerns about the effects of intermittent fasting on the development of insulin-producing beta cells, particularly in adolescents. The study, which focused on mice, found that while intermittent fasting improved insulin sensitivity in adult and older mice, it caused detrimental effects on beta cell function in adolescent mice. These findings suggest that intermittent fasting could pose risks for teenagers, potentially impacting their metabolism and long-term health.

The research team, led by Alexander Bartelt, Else Kröner Fresenius Professor and Chair of Translational Nutritional Medicine at TUM, investigated how intermittent fasting affected beta cells in the pancreas. In adult and older mice, the fasting regimen led to improved insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for regulating blood sugar and preventing conditions like type 2 diabetes. However, in the adolescent mice, fasting led to a significant decline in the function of their beta cells, which are responsible for insulin production.

Using advanced single-cell sequencing techniques, the researchers identified that the beta cells in the young mice did not mature properly, which led to reduced insulin production. This impairment mirrored the changes seen in individuals with type 1 diabetes, where beta cells are destroyed by the immune system. The findings indicate that intermittent fasting, while beneficial for adults, may have unintended consequences for young people, potentially affecting their metabolic health.

Stephan Herzig, a professor at TUM and director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Munich, emphasized the need for further research: “Our study confirms that intermittent fasting may offer health benefits for adults, but it could present risks for children and adolescents. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms behind these effects is essential, as understanding how to promote healthy beta cell development could lead to new treatments for diabetes.”

The study highlights the importance of considering age-specific factors when evaluating the benefits and risks of dietary practices like intermittent fasting. By better understanding how fasting impacts young people’s health, researchers hope to find ways to ensure that interventions aimed at improving metabolism do not inadvertently harm their long-term wellbeing.

Publications

Matta, L., Weber, P., Erener, S. et al., Chronic intermittent fasting impairs β cell maturation and function in adolescent mice, Cell Reports (2025). DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115225.

Further information and links

• Alexander Bartelt is Professor for Translational Nutritional Medicine and a member at the TUM School of Life Sciences.
• Stephan Herzig is a member at the TUM School of Medicine and Health  and Director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Munich.
• Presentation video Prof. Alexander Bartelt.

Media Contacts:

Corporate Communications Center
Anja Lapac
presse@tum.de

Contacts to this article:

Prof. Dr. Alexander Bartelt
Technical University of Munich
Chair of Translational Nutritional Medicine
alexander.bartelt@tum.de

Prof. Dr. Stephan Herzig
stephan.herzig@helmholtz-muenchen.de

SOURCE: Technical University of Munich