Study on Water Fasting Safety
Overview of Fasting
A recent investigation explored the safety of medically supervised water fasting at the True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. Fasting can take various forms, typically involving the abstention from specific foods and beverages for a designated period. It is increasingly promoted for its potential health benefits, which include the breakdown of fats and lipids, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, and enhanced hormone modulation. These advantages may contribute to findings suggesting that fasting can benefit individuals suffering from chronic conditions such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia.
Historical Context of Water Fasting
Water-only fasting entails complete abstinence from all food and beverages, aside from pure water. This method was examined in studies during the 1960s and 1970s as a treatment for obesity. However, reports of serious complications, including fatalities, raised concerns and led to a reduction in research. It remained unclear whether these complications stemmed directly from water-only fasting or if they were linked to unsafe fasting practices. Despite this, water fasting continued, and protocols addressing safety concerns and contraindications were developed, although they have not been extensively studied.
Research Methodology
Patient Data Collection
Researchers analyzed data collected over five years from 768 patients at the True North Health Center. Participants were included if they fasted for a minimum of two consecutive days, with refeeding periods equal to half the duration of the fast. Some patients underwent multiple fasting sessions, leading to aggregated data across visits. Information on adverse events was gathered from self-reports and clinical findings. Adverse events were classified by severity, ranging from mild to life-threatening or fatal.
Fasting Protocol
The center employs a comprehensive, medically supervised fasting protocol that adheres to standards established by the International Association of Hygienic Physicians. This protocol outlines contraindications, fasting preparations, medical supervision, and refeeding procedures post-fasting. Fasting durations varied from two to seven days, extending to twenty-two days or more.
Findings from the Study
Adverse Events Observed
The study found that adverse events, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, dyspepsia, presyncope, and hypertension, were predominantly mild or moderate. During the protocol period, over 70% of patient visits reported only mild or moderate adverse events across 555 visits. Severe but non-life-threatening events were noted in approximately one-quarter of visits (212), with only one life-threatening event recorded and no fatalities.
Serious Adverse Events
Two serious adverse events, qualifying as such under the Department of Health and Human Services criteria, were documented. These incidents involved older adults and necessitated temporary hospitalizations. The study indicated that older patients and those fasting for longer periods experienced a higher frequency of severe events, although these associations were not deemed strong.
Conclusion and Future Research Directions
This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of adverse events related to medically supervised water-only fasting to date. The findings suggest that such fasting is generally safe and well tolerated. However, limitations exist since the research was confined to a single health center, which may affect the generalizability of the results to other populations or settings. Future randomized controlled trials with comparison groups and blinding are essential to further validate these findings. Additional research should also explore factors that may influence adverse events, including fasting duration, age, and pre-existing health conditions.
Reference
Finnell, John S., Bradley C. Saul, Alan C. Goldhamer, and Toshia R. Myers. “Is fasting safe? A chart review of adverse events during medically supervised, water-only fasting.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 18, no. 1 (2018): 67.