Positive Health Online

Intermittent Fasting Could be Unsafe for Teenagers

• Intermittent fasting during growth affects the development of beta cells
• Beta cells fail to mature properly
• Effects on insulin production

A recent study reveals that age plays a significant role in the outcomes of intermittent fasting. Researchers from Technical University of Munich (TUM), LMU Hospital Munich, and Helmholtz Munich discovered that chronic intermittent fasting disrupted the development of insulin-producing beta cells in young mice. The findings raise concerns about potential risks for humans, especially teenagers.

“Intermittent fasting is known to have benefits, including boosting metabolism and helping with weight loss and heart disease. But until now, its potential side effects weren’t well understood,” says Alexander Bartelt, the Else Kröner Fresenius Professor and Chair of Translational Nutritional Medicine at TUM. In a recently published study,[1] the team shows that intermittent fasting during adolescence could have long-term negative effects on metabolism.

Fasting Improves Metabolism in Older Mice, But Not in the Young

The researchers studied three groups of mice: adolescent, adult, and older animals. The mice remained without food for one day and were fed normally on two days. After ten weeks, insulin sensitivity improved in both the adult and older mice, meaning that their metabolism responded better to insulin produced by the pancreas. This is key to regulating blood sugar levels and preventing conditions like type 2 diabetes.

However, the adolescent mice showed a troubling decline in their beta cell function, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Insufficient insulin production is linked to diabetes and disrupted metabolism. “Intermittent fasting is usually thought to benefit beta cells, so we were surprised to find that young mice produced less insulin after the extended fasting,” explains Leonardo Matta from Helmholtz Munich, one of the study’s lead authors.

Defective Beta Cells Resemble those of Type 1 Diabetes Patients

The researchers used the latest single-cell sequencing to uncover the cause of the beta cell impairment. By examining the blueprint of the pancreas, the team found that the beta cells in the younger mice failed to mature properly. “At some point, the cells in the adolescent mice stopped developing and produced less insulin,” says Peter Weber from Helmholtz Munich, also a lead author. Older mice, whose beta cells were already mature before the fasting began, remained unaffected.

The team compared their mouse findings to data from human tissues. They found that patients with type 1 diabetes, where beta cells are destroyed by an autoimmune response, showed similar signs of impaired cell maturation. This suggests that the findings from the mouse study could also be relevant to humans.

“Our study confirms that intermittent fasting is beneficial for adults, but it might come with risks for children and teenagers,” says Stephan Herzig, a professor at TUM and director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Munich. “The next step is digging deeper into the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations. If we better understand how to promote healthy beta cell development, it will open new avenues for treating diabetes by restoring insulin production.”

Reference

1. Matta L, Weber P, Erener, S. et al., Chronic intermittent fasting impairs β cell maturation and function in adolescent mice Cell Reports, 44 (2): 115225 . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115225. 2025.

About Technical University of Munich (TUM)

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of the world’s leading universities in terms of research, teaching and innovation, with around 700 professorships, 53,000 students and 12,000 staff. TUM’s range of subjects includes engineering, natural and life sciences, medicine, computer sciences, mathematics, economics and social sciences. As an entrepreneurial university, TUM envisages itself as a global hub of knowledge exchange, open to society. Every year, more than 70 start-ups are founded at TUM, which acts as a key player in Munich’s high-tech ecosystem. The university is represented around the world by its TUM Asia campus in Singapore along with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Mumbai, San Francisco and São Paulo. Nobel Prize laureates and inventors such as Rudolf Diesel, Carl von Linde and Rudolf Mößbauer have conducted research at TUM, which was awarded the title of University of Excellence in 2006, 2012 and 2019. International rankings regularly cite TUM as the best university in the European Union.

Contact and Further Information

This news release on tum.de: https://www.tum.de/en/...-teenagers

Subject Matter Expert:

Prof. Dr. Alexander Bartelt
Technical University of Munich
Chair of Translational Nutritional Medicine
https://www.mls.ls.tum.de/tnm
alexander.bartelt@tum.de
Prof. Dr. Stephan Herzig
Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Munich
stephan.herzig@helmholtz-muenchen.de
TUM Corporate Communications Center contact:

Anja Lapac, Media Relations Officer
Tel.: +49 8161 71-5403

presse@tum.de   www.tum.de

Female Heart Attacks

Rosemary Lawrence

https://www.facebook.com/1420595189/posts/10228361082398414

Inspirations Kindness Viral

https://www.facebook.com/kindnessviral   

An ER nurse says this is the best description of a woman having a heart attack that she has ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and SHARE..........

Female Heart Attacks

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.

Women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have ... you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

I had a heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the oesophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my Spine (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!

I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialled the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.

Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first-hand.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if anything is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!
2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an aspirin. Ladies, Time Is Of The Essence!

Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER – you are a hazard to others on the road.

Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.

Do NOT call your doctor –- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally oxygen that you need ASAP. Your Dr will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who sees this post would Share or re-post, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

*Please be a true friend and share this article to all your friends, women & men too. Most men have female loved ones and could greatly benefit from know this information too! Credit goes to respective owner.

Contact and Further Information

Please forward this information. https://www.facebook.com/kindnessviral

The Warning Signs that your Body is Deficient in these Vitamins and Minerals

Ever feel like you’re running on fumes, no matter how much sleep you get? Or maybe your nails break at the slightest touch? Experts say these could be warning signs that your body is missing some key nutrients. Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin D, iron, Vitamin B12, and calcium, are more common than you think, and they can take a serious toll on your energy, mood and overall health.

Benjamin Bunting, sports nutritionist, military physical training Instructor and founder of beForm Nutrition, sheds light on four of the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies, their warning signs, and how to boost your levels.

The Four Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies and their Warning Signs

Vitamin D – Deficiency can lead to fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness, frequent illnesses, depression, slow wound healing, hair loss, excessive sweating, joint pain, and even heart issues. Those at higher risk include individuals with limited sun exposure, darker skin, obesity, or digestive disorders. To improve Vitamin D levels, aim for regular sunlight exposure, eat foods like fatty fish, fortified dairy, and egg yolks, or consider supplements if necessary;

Iron – Iron deficiency, which often leads to anaemia, is particularly common among women, children, and vegetarians. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. To boost iron levels, consume iron-rich foods like red meat, leafy greens, legumes, and fortified cereals, and pair them with vitamin C for better absorption;

Vitamin B12 – Found mainly in animal products, Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among vegetarians, vegans, and older adults. It can cause fatigue, nerve damage, memory problems, and mood disturbances. It can also cause difficulty concentrating and nerve damage if left untreated. To boost B12 levels, consume animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy or take fortified foods and supplements if needed;

Calcium – Essential for bone health, calcium deficiency increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. It can also lead to muscle cramps, weak teeth, and abnormal heart rhythms. Those most at risk include postmenopausal women, individuals with lactose intolerance, vegans, and those with digestive disorders affecting absorption. To maintain healthy calcium levels, consume dairy products, leafy greens, almonds, and fortified foods, and ensure adequate vitamin D intake for proper absorption.

Benjamin Bunting, Founder beForm Nutrition, advises, “Many of these deficiencies go unnoticed because their symptoms can be mistaken for everyday stress or ageing. However, prolonged lack of essential nutrients can have serious health implications. The good news is that these deficiencies can often be corrected with a proper diet and, when necessary, supplementation.”

Sources

beForm Nutrition

https://beformnutrition.com/

Harvard Health Publishing: Most common nutrient deficiencies

Contact and Further Information 

Gina Hartley gina.hartley@data.pr

Tel: inquiries: +44 0208 050 0054

How to Support Employees Suffering from Cancer

Balancing work and cancer has become a major corporate social responsibility challenge for organizations, says Professor Rachel Beaujolin at NEOMA Business School.

Each year, 160,000 employees in France receive a cancer diagnosis. This diagnosis fundamentally changes their personal and professional lives, with medical treatments, fatigue, and stigmas surrounding serious illness contributing to these employees reassessing their priorities.

For HR professionals, it raises a question: how can employees with cancer be supported in continuing to work without compromising their healthcare needs?

Beaujolin says that standardized solutions, rigid support frameworks, and uniform responses are well-intentioned but unfit for purpose. This is because cancer treatment is a complex journey, often influenced by unpredictability, such as side-effects of cancer treatment. 

“This highlights the importance of tailoring working conditions to the specific needs of employees affected by the illness, as no two situations are the same,” she says.

Drawing on a study she published in the journal Revue Française de Gestion (French Management Review), she proposes three key strategies to support employees diagnosed with cancer:

• Adapting workplace conditions in line with the evolving needs of employees and their treatments;
• Encouraging informal conversations to better understand and adjust solutions on a daily basis;
• Transforming practices by introducing greater flexibility and inclusivity.

Her findings are based on academic analysis of prior studies and interviews with employees affected by cancer, while also pulling from her own experience with cancer, recorded in a logbook.

Further Information

For more information, a copy of the study, or to hear from Professor Rachel Beaujolin, contact Jamie Hose at BlueSky Education on jamie@bluesky-pr.com, or Tel: +44 (0)1582 790 706.