How Excessive TV Watching Increases Death Risk

By Chukwuma Muanya,

* Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest mortality risk
*45-year study shows benefits of exercising to life expectancy

More reasons are emerging why Nigerians should get more active. People who watch Television (TV) for five or more hours a day appear to be at much greater risk of dying from a blood clot in the lung – a condition known as pulmonary embolism.

Simple steps similar to those recommended for travelers on long plane flights, such as flexing leg muscles or standing up and stretching may reduce risk.Watching a lot of television every day may increase your risk of dying from a blood clot in the lung, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.

A lung blood clot, known medically as a pulmonary embolism, usually begins as a clot in the leg or pelvis as a result of inactivity and slowed blood flow. If the clot breaks free, it can travel to a lung and become lodged in a small blood vessel, where it is especially dangerous.Also, a 45-year study in middle-aged men has shown that the impact of low physical capacity on risk of death is second only to smoking. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, was designed to investigate risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Lead author and researcher in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Dr. Per Ladenvall, said: “The benefits of being physically active over a lifetime are clear. Low physical capacity is a greater risk for death than high blood pressure or high cholesterol.”

The study included 792 men from the “Study of Men Born in 1913,” a representative sample of 50 year old men in Gothenburg recruited in 1963. The study was designed to investigate risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality.In 1967, at 54 years of age, the 792 men did an exercise test. Of those, 656 men also did a maximum exercise test in which they pushed themselves to the limit. The remaining men were excluded from the maximum exercise test because they had a health condition that could make it unsafe. Maximal oxygen uptake, called VO2 max, was measured in a subpopulation of the 656 men using ergospirometry.

Meanwhile, from 1988 to 1990, Japanese researchers asked 86,024 participants, age 40 to 79, how many hours they spent watching TV. Over the next 19 years, 59 participants died of a pulmonary embolism.Researchers found that compared to participants who watched TV less than 2.5 hours each day, deaths from a pulmonary embolism increased by:
*70 percent among those who watched TV from 2.5 to 4.9 hours
*40 percent for each additional 2 hours of daily TV watching; and
*2.5 times among those who watched TV 5 or more hours.

Professor of public health at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and study corresponding author, Hiroyasu Iso, said: “Pulmonary embolism occurs at a lower rate in Japan than it does in Western countries, but it may be on the rise. The Japanese people are increasingly adopting sedentary lifestyles, which we believe is putting them at increased risk.”

Authors noted that the risk is likely greater than the findings suggest. Deaths from pulmonary embolism are believed to be underreported because diagnosis is difficult. The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism – chest pain and shortness of breath – are the same as other life-threatening conditions, and diagnosis requires imaging that many hospitals are not equipped to provide.

Researchers accounted for several factors that might have influenced findings, including obesity, diabetes, cigarette smoking and hypertension. After the number of hours spent watching TV, obesity appeared to have the next strongest link to pulmonary embolism.

Study first author and a research fellow in public health at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, Dr. Toru Shirakawa, said the findings may be particularly relevant to Americans. Other studies indicate U.S. adults watch more television than Japanese adults.

“Nowadays, with online video streaming, the term ‘binge-watching’ to describe viewing multiple episodes of television programs in one sitting has become popular,” Shirakawa said. “This popularity may reflect a rapidly growing habit.”

Authors said people who watch a lot of TV could take several easy steps to reduce their risk of developing blood clots in their legs that may then move to their lungs. “After an hour or so, stand up, stretch, walk around, or while you’re watching TV, tense and relax your leg muscles for five minutes,” said Iso, noting this advice is similar to that given to travelers on long plane flights. He added that drinking water may also help and, in the long run, shedding pounds if overweight is likely to reduce risk.

The study recorded participants’ viewing habits before computers, tablets and smartphones became popular sources of information and entertainment. Authors believe new studies are needed to determine the effect of these new technologies on pulmonary embolism risk.

Meanwhile, Ladenvall said: “VO2 max is a measure of aerobic capacity and the higher the figure, the more physically fit a person is. In 1967 it was difficult to do ergospirometry in large populations, so the researchers derived a formula using the measurements in the subpopulation, and then calculated predicted VO2 max for the remaining 656 men who had done the maximum exercise test.”

After the initial examination in 1967, the men were followed up until 2012, at the age of 100 years. Several physical examinations were performed, about one every 10 years. Data on all-cause death was obtained from the National Cause of Death Registry.

To analyse the association between predicted VO2 max and mortality the men were divided into three groups (tertiles) ranging from low to high: 2.00 l/min, 2.26 l/min, and 2.56 l/min.

The researchers found that each tertile increase in predicted VO2 max was associated with a 21% lower risk of death over 45 years of follow up, and after adjusting for other risk factors (smoking, blood pressure and serum cholesterol).

Ladenvall said: “We found that low aerobic capacity was associated with increased rates of death. The association between exercise capacity and all-cause death was graded, with the strongest risk in the tertile with the lowest maximum aerobic capacity. The effect of aerobic capacity on risk of death was second only to smoking.”

“The length of follow up in our study is unique,” continued Dr Ladenvall. “When this study began, most data was derived from hospital cohorts and there was very limited data on exercise testing in a large general population. Our sample is representative of the male population in Gothenburg at that time. The risk associated with low aerobic capacity was evident throughout more than four decades and suggests that being physically active can have a big impact over a lifetime.”

He concluded: “We have come a long way in reducing smoking. The next major challenge is to keep us physically active and also to reduce physical inactivity, such as prolonged sitting.”

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More Local Foods Enlisted To Treat Hypertension

By Chukwuma Muanya |

Researchers have identified and validated more local spices and food items that could be effectively used to control and manage hypertension. Top on the list are garlic, beetroot, Zobo and banana. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

Several studies have identified hypertension-related diseases and complications as the major cause of sudden deaths in Nigeria. However, researchers have shown that lifestyle modifications including the regular intake of local spices and foodstuffs may reduce the risk of developing the condition and help in managing it in persons already affected.

Top on the list of the local remedies are: garlic, Zobo, beetroot, banana, and carrot.

Hypertension, or chronically elevated blood pressure (BP) (systolic/diastolic BP [SBP/DBP] greater than and equal to 140/90 mmHg at the brachial artery), is a multifactorial condition implicated in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is among the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension and its complications such as strokes, heart attack and kidney failure are on the prowl!

GARLIC (Allium sativum)

Researchers have found that garlic, particularly in the form of the standardizable and highly tolerable aged garlic extract, has the potential to lower BP in hypertensive individuals similarly to standard BP medication, via biologically plausible mechanisms of action.

The recent study published in the journal Integrated Blood Pressure Control is titled “Potential of garlic (Allium sativum) in lowering high blood pressure: mechanisms of action and clinical relevance.”

The authors led by Karin Ried and Peter Fakler wrote: “Garlic supplements have shown promise in the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension, lowering blood pressure (BP) by about 10 mmHg systolic and 8 mmHg diastolic, similar to standard BP medication. Aged garlic extract, which contains S-allylcysteine as the bioactive sulfur compound, in particular is standardizable and highly tolerable, with little or no known harmful interaction when taken with other BP-reducing or blood-thinning medication.

“Here we describe biologically plausible mechanisms of garlic’s BP-lowering effect. Garlic-derived polysulfides stimulate the production of the vascular gasotransmitter hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and enhance the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO), which induce smooth muscle cell relaxation, vasodilation, and BP reduction. Several dietary and genetic factors influence the efficiency of the H2S and NO signaling pathways and may contribute to the development of hypertension. Sulphur deficiency might play a part in the etiology of hypertension, and could be alleviated with supplementation of organosulfur compounds derived from garlic.”

BANANA (Musa sapientum)

Researchers have found that banana contains phytochemicals, thus its intake reduces blood pressure significantly among hypertensive individuals.

The study published in the journal Medical Science is titled “Effect of banana on blood pressure of hypertensive individuals: a cross sectional study from Pokhara, Nepal.”

Medicinal use of banana is well known. Musa paradisiaca (plantain)and Musa sapientum is used in diarrhoea (unripe), dysentery, intestinal lesions in ulcerative colitis, diabetes (unripe), in sprue, uremia, nephritis, gout, hypertension, cardiac disease.

Apart from effect in blood pressure, banana inhibits atherosclerosis and gallstones in vivo. Musa paradisiaca inhibits cholesterol crystallization, showing this effect. Banana contains large amounts of potassium. Approximately, 300mg/100g fresh weight. Experimental evidences suggest that potassium is an important regulator of blood pressure. Altered vascular sensitivity to vasoactive hormones and alterations in divalent cation metabolism playing a key role mediating blood pressure. After extensive review of literature relatively fewer documents found enlighten the blood pressure lowering effect of banana on human subjects.

ZOBO/ROSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Scientists have confirmed the efficacy of Zobo in the treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol/fat levels.

The study published in the journal Fitoterapia is titled “Hibiscus sabdariffa in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia: a comprehensive review of animal and human studies.”

The researchers noted: “The effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) in the treatment of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease is assessed in this review by taking a comprehensive approach to interpreting the randomized clinical trial (RCT) results in the context of the available ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and safety and toxicity information. HS decoctions and infusions of calyxes, and on occasion leaves, are used in at least 10 countries worldwide in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia with no reported adverse events or side effects. HS extracts have a low degree of toxicity with a LD50 ranging from 2,000 to over 5,000 mg/kg/day.

“There is no evidence of hepatic or renal toxicity as the result of HS extract consumption, except for possible adverse hepatic effects at high doses. There is evidence that HS acts as a diuretic, however in most cases the extract did not significantly influence electrolyte levels. Animal studies have consistently shown that consumption of HS extract reduces blood pressure in a dose dependent manner. In RCTs, the daily consumption of a tea or extract produced from HS calyxes significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults with pre to moderate essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

“In addition, HS tea was as effective at lowering blood pressure as the commonly used blood pressure medication Captropril, but less effective than Lisinopril. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides were lowered in the majority of normolipidemic, hypolipidemic, and diabetic animal models, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was generally not affected by the consumption of HS extract. Over half of the RCTs showed that daily consumption of HS tea or extracts had favorable influence on lipid profiles including reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, as well as increased HDL-C. Anthocyanins found in abundance in HS calyxes are generally considered the phytochemicals responsible for the antihypertensive and hypocholesterolemic effects, however evidence has also been provided for the role of polyphenols and hibiscus acid.

“A number of potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the hypotensive and anticholesterol effects, but the most common explanation is the antioxidant effects of the anthocyanins inhibition of LDL-C oxidation, which impedes atherosclerosis, an important cardiovascular risk factor.

“This comprehensive body of evidence suggests that extracts of HS are promising as a treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, however more high quality animal and human studies informed by actual therapeutic practices are needed to provide recommendations for use that have the potential for widespread public health benefit.”
Beetroot

Recent research showed that beetroot might reduce blood pressure in some people.

A meta-analysis of 16 trials was published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2013.

The researchers found that: “Inorganic nitrate and beetroot juice supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure.”

However, the latest study to investigate beetroot and its impact on blood pressure was carried out at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in the United Kingdom and published in the journal Hypertension.

British Heart Foundation, senior research advisor, Dr. Shannon Amoils, said: “This interesting study builds on previous research by this team and finds that a daily glass of beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension – even those whose high blood pressure was not controlled by drug treatment.”

The study concluded: “These findings suggest a role for dietary nitrate as an affordable, readily-available, adjunctive treatment in the management of patients with hypertension.”

To put the importance of these findings in context, the authors note that large-scale observational studies show that for every 2 mm Hg increase in blood pressure, the risk of death from heart disease goes up 7 percent and the risk of stroke increases by 10 percent.

Also,, a recent review of natural herbs used in the treatment of hypertension has provided an introduction of the naturally occurring medicinal plants that have so far been scientifically studied and reported to have hypotensive or antihypertensive effects.

The study published in Pharmacognosy Review is titled “Role of natural herbs in the treatment of hypertension.”

According to the study, naturally occurring medicinal plants, herbs having hypotensive/antihypertensive potential include among others: garlic (Allium sativum), buchu (Agathosma betulina), soursop/graviola (Annona muricata), celery (Apium graveolens), breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), green oat (Avena sativa), tea (Camellia sinensis), stinging weed/coffee weed (Cassia occidentalis), carrot (Daucus carota).

Other herbs for treating hypertension according to the Pharmacognosy Review study are: soybean (Glycine max), zobo/roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), stonebreaker (Lepidium latifolium), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), Moringa oleiferia, scent leaf/basil (Ocimum basilicum), Phyllanthus amarus (ngwu in Ibo), ginger (Zingiber officinale), sesame (Sesamum indicum).

Phyllanthus amarus belongs to the plant family Euphorbiaceae. To the Efik it is called oyomokeso amanke edem; geeron-tsuntsaayee (birds millet) in Hausa; Ibo (Asaba) buchi oro, Ibo (Umuahia) ngwu; iyeke in Urhobo; and ehin olobe or eyin olobe in Yoruba.

In another published study featured in the Journal of Medicine, it was revealed that common spices can protect from heart disease and the deterioration brought about by aging. In the said study, researchers discovered a connection between the phenol content of certain herbs and spices and their capacity to prevent glycation and formation of AGE compounds that are responsible for premature ageing and heart disease.

Also, according to the study, “An Ethnobotanical Survey of Herbal Markets and Medicinal Plants in Lagos State of Nigeria” published in Ethnobotanical Leaflets by researchers from the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, herbal cures for hypertension include: leaves of Persea americana (avocado) are made into shreds, dried and taken as infusion; leaves of Senecio biafrae (worowo in Yoruba or Sierra Leone bologna) added to fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa (dawadawa in Hausa, African locust beans in English, Igba/Iyere in Yoruba, and Nere in Bambara) are used to prepare soup which is eaten; leaves of Talinum triangulare (water leaf) or Basella alba (Indian spinach in English, Amunututu in Yoruba) may also be used; and kola nut’s mistletoe mixed with honey is also effective.

Another study titled “Phytochemical Analysis of Medicinal Plants Used for the Management of Hypertension by Esan people of Edo State, Nigeria” and published in Ethnobotanical Leaflets by researchers from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, identified 14 endemic plant species distributed in 12 taxonomic families commonly used to manage hypertension.

They include: guava (Psidium guajava), West African black pepper/Ashanti pepper (Piper guineense, Uziza in Igbo and Ata iyere in Yoruba), mistletoe (Loranthus spectobulus), water leaf (Talinum triangulare), Nigerian senna/negro coffee (Senna occidentalis), serpent wood or swizzler stick (Rauwolfia vomitoria), garlic (Allium sativum), onions (Allium cepa), pawpaw (Carica papaya), asthma herb (Euphorbia hirta), scent leaf/basil (Ocimum gratissimum), avocado (Persea americana), cow-foot (Peperomia pellucida), and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina).
Method of preparation

The bulbs of garlic are blended with honey for the purpose of hypertension. The unripe rind of pawpaw is peeled and soaked in water and after three days, a cup is taken daily. The leaves are also used for treating hypertension.

Leaves of avocado pear are cut into pieces, dried and made into tea, for the management of hypertension. The cotyledons of avocado pear seed are cut into pieces, dried and grinded into powder. A dessert spoonful in 200ml hot water taken after meals gives relieve for the ailment.

Guava leaves are soaked in salt water, washed and squeezed and product made up with fresh water to give a greenish liquid that is taken, one glass two times daily for one week to increase blood level and offer protection against heart attack.
Also, the fresh leaves of bitter are chewed and swallowed or ground, or stirred in water, and the liquid taken, to manage hypertension.

SOURSOP

Annona muricata is a member of the family of custard apple trees called Annonaceae and a species of the genus Annona, known mostly for its edible fruits Annona. The tree grows natively in the Caribbean and Central America. The leaf extract of the plant has been reported to lower an elevated BP by decreasing the peripheral vascular resistance.

BREADFRUIT

The plant is native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands. A study has shown that the leaf extract of the plant decreased the tension of phenylephrine-stimulated isolated guinea pig aorta rings by 15 to 35 per cent.

CARROT

It has been used in traditional medicine to treat hypertension. Activity-directed fractionation of aerial parts of D. carota resulted in the isolation of two coumarin glycosides coded as DC-2 and DC-3. Intravenous administration of these compounds caused a dose-dependent (1–10 mg/kg) fall in arterial BP in NMT anesthetized rats. In the in vitro studies, both compounds caused a dose-dependent (10–200 mg/ml) inhibitory effect on spontaneously beating guinea pig atria as well as on the K+ -induced contractions of rabbit aorta at similar concentrations.

These results indicate that DC-2 and DC-3 may be acting through blockade of calcium channels, and this effect may be responsible for the BP-lowering effect of the compounds observed in the in vivo studies. Two new guaiane-type sesquiterpene terpenoids containing an interesting epoxy unit, daucuside and daucusol, have been isolated from fruits of D. carota.

TOMATO

Tomato extract contains carotenoids, such as lycopene, beta carotene, and vitamin E, which are known as effective antioxidants, to inactivate free radicals and to slow the progress of atherosclerosis. A study showed that extract of tomato (Lyc-O-Mato) modestly reduces BP in patients with mild, untreated hypertension.

A significant correlation has been observed between systolic BP and lycopene levels.

Artificial Sweeteners: Are They Safe?

By Bunmi George,

Artificial sweeteners basically trick your body into thinking that it’s going to receive sugar

I have wanted to write about the negative effects of artificial sweeteners for some time now. With so many people concerned about sugar, they have turned to no-calorie sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners have taken over supermarket and coffee shops, turning up in everything from sodas to ice cream and yogurt. Low–sugar” or “sugar–free” has become a welcomed trend, given the health hazards of sugar in the average diet.

These supposed “diet-friendly” options emerged to give consumers low-calorie alternatives to real sugar. I first took notice of sweeteners at around age 10, my father who is diabetic swore by these artificial sweeteners. He put it in everything from his coffee to cereals to lemonade. He was hooked on it because artificial sweeteners generally don’t raise blood sugar levels because they are not carbohydrates.

If you’re trying to reduce the sugar and calories in your diet, you may be turning to artificial sweeteners or other sugar substitutes. You aren’t alone. That is why this topic is important, because tens of millions of people believe their diet soda or artificially-sweetened food is the keystone of what they think is healthy nutrition— both for themselves and for their families.

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes. A sugar substitute is a food additive that provides a sweet taste like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy. Artificial sweeteners are also known as intense sweeteners because they are many times sweeter than regular sugar.

At the moment, there are five different artificial sweeteners on the market. The one you’re most likely to encounter is aspartame, which also tends to be the worst of them all.

Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are primarily promoted to diabetics and those concerned about their weight. Despite the fact that artificial sweeteners have repeatedly been shown to produce the exact opposite effects. Research shows that aspartame worsens insulin sensitivity to a greater degree than sugar. Artificial sweeteners have also been found to promote weight gain, in more ways than one.

Over time, artificial sweeteners have also crept into a wide variety of products not directly targeting diabetics and dieters. They are attractive alternatives to sugar because they add virtually no calories to your diet. In addition, you need only a fraction compared with the amount of sugar you would normally use for sweetness. What is most disturbingly is the food industry groups are now trying to hide the presence of artificial sweeteners in certain foods. The truth is artificial sweeteners are added to about 6,000 different beverages and snacks. They are found in a variety of food and they’re marketed as “sugar-free” or “diet,” including soft drinks, chewing gum, jellies, baked goods, candy, fruit juice, ice cream and yogurt. Artificial sweeteners have become popular for home use.

Some can even be used in baking or cooking.Another issue is artificial sweeteners cause metabolic confusion. When you consume something that tastes sweet but doesn’t  contain any calories, your brain’s pleasure pathway still gets activated by the sweet taste, but there’s nothing to deactivate it, since the calories never arrive. Artificial sweeteners basically trick your body into thinking that it’s going to receive sugar (calories), but when the sugar doesn’t come; your body continues to signal that it needs more, which results in carb cravings.

Now you have a better understanding about the dangers of artificial sweeteners, I am sure you want to know what alternatives are available. One of the natural alternatives is honey which unlike sugar it is a complex food, one teaspoon contains proteins, amino acids and minerals.

Another alternative is Agave syrup which is derived from an agave cactus, it has low glycemic index. Stevia is an equally good alternative; it is low in calories which is a plus for dieters. Stevia is a 100% natural, zero calorie sweetener with a number of health benefits. It is a green, leafy plant that is native to South America, and has been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries. I urge you to do more research on this topic and find more local alternatives.

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FOOD AND HEALTH: Fasting For Three Days Can Renew Your Immune System Researchers Say.

Fasting for three days can regenerate entire immune system, study finds.

Researchers say fasting "flips a regenerative switch" which prompts stem cells to create brand new white blood cells CREDIT:  PEGAZ/ALAMY
 Sarah Knapton, science correspondent
5 JUNE 2014 • 7:45PM
Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as "remarkable".

Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection.

Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy.

It could also help the elderly whose immune system becomes less effective as they age, making it harder for them to fight off even common diseases.

The researchers say fasting "flips a regenerative switch" which prompts stem cells to create brand new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system.

"It gives the 'OK' for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system," said Prof Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the University of California.

"And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting.

“Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system."

Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose and fat but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.

During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells.

In trials humans were asked to regularly fast for between two and four days over a six-month period.

Scientists found that prolonged fasting also reduced the enzyme PKA, which is linked to ageing and a hormone which increases cancer risk and tumour growth.

"We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic system," added Prof Longo.

"When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged," Dr Longo said.

"What we started noticing in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. So we started thinking, well, where does it come from?"

Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients against the toxic impact of chemotherapy.

"While chemotherapy saves lives, it causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. The results of this study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy," said co-author Tanya Dorff, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital.

"More clinical studies are needed, and any such dietary intervention should be undertaken only under the guidance of a physician.”

"We are investigating the possibility that these effects are applicable to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system," added Prof Longo.

However, some British experts were sceptical of the research.

Dr Graham Rook, emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded "improbable".

Chris Mason, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at UCL, said: “There is some interesting data here. It sees that fasting reduces the number and size of cells and then re-feeding at 72 hours saw a rebound.

“That could be potentially useful because that is not such a long time that it would be terribly harmful to someone with cancer.

“But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”

Dr Longo added: “There is no evidence at all that fasting would be dangerous while there is strong evidence that it is beneficial.

“I have received emails from hundreds of cancer patients who have combined chemo with fasting, many with the assistance of the oncologists.

“Thus far the great majority have reported doing very well and only a few have reported some side effects including fainting and a temporary increase in liver markers. Clearly we need to finish the clinical trials, but it looks very promising.”

The Telegraph.

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