Efficacy of fasting calorie restriction on depression and quality of life among aging men.
Physiol Behav. 2011 Jul 19.
Teng NI, Shahar S, Manaf ZA, Das SK, Taha CS, Ngah WZ.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Calorie restriction (CR) has been promoted to increase longevity. Previous studies have indicated that CR can negatively affect mood and therefore the effect of CR on mood and quality of life (QOL) becomes crucial when considering the feasibility of CR in humans. We conducted a three month clinical trial on CR (reduction of 300 to 500kcal/day) combined with two days/week of Muslim sunnah fasting (FCR) to determine the effectiveness of FCR on QOL among aging men in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 25 healthy Malay men (age 58.8±5.1years), with no chronic diseases and a BMI of 23.0 to 29.9kg/m(2) were randomized to FCR (n=12) and control (n=13) groups. Body composition measurements and QOL questionnaires were ascertained at baseline, week 6 and week 12. QOL was measured using the Short-Form 36, sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck Depression Inventory II was used to measure mood and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure depression. The FCR group had a significant reduction in body weight, BMI, body fat percentage and depression (P<0.05). The energy component of QOL was significantly increased in FCR group (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in sleep quality and stress level between the groups as a result of the intervention. In conclusion, FCR resulted in body weight and fat loss and alleviated depression with some improvement in the QOL in our study and has the potential to be implemented on a wider scale.

Fasting-diet therapy of elderly patients with borderline mental disorders.
Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 1991;91(4):101-4
Polishchuk IuI
During the fasting dietetic therapy (FDT), 89 patients aged 46 to 75 years with mental disorders of nonpsychotic character (neurosis-like, neurotic and affective) were examined. The time-course of changes in the clinical status of patients with cerebral atherosclerosis, essential hypertension, slow-progredient schizophrenia, cyclothymia and manic-depressive psychosis,  neuroses and lingering neurotic reactions during the FDT is described. The beneficial results in the form of considerable improvement and improvement of the mental status were attained in 83.2% of the patients. The elderly patients were found to tolerate FDT well. Side effects and somatic complications were recorded in 6 patients and were not serious. Based on the data obtained the FDT can be recommended for use on a wider basis in the management of elderly patients with borderline mental disorders.

Fasting therapy for psychosomatic disorders in Japan.
Psychother Psychosom. 1979;31(1-4):307-14.
Suzuki J, Yamauchi Y, Yamamoto H, Komuro U.
It has been well known in Japan that fasting therapy has an excellent effect on various kinds of psychosomatic diseases. From 1967 to 1977 the therapy was carried out on about 382 cases of psychosomatic diseases in our clinic with an efficacy rate of 87%. The following diseases were considered as suitable indications for the therapy; irritable colon, behavioral disturbance of eating, functional disorders of the G-I tract, neurocirculatory asthenia, labile hypertension, variable psychosomatic symptoms of puberty, conversion hysteria and many kinds of neurosis with somatic complaints. The mechanism of effectiveness of the therapy is discussed from the psychological and biological aspects. It is concluded that the regulating mechanisms of the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system may change the whole functioning of the body including the brain, resulting in a spontaneous deconditioning of maladaptive bodily and mental behavior and an improved homeostatic adjustment to life.

Psychophysiological study on fasting therapy.
Psychother Psychosom. 1979;32(1-4):229-240.
Yamamoto H, Suzuki J, Yamauchi Y.
The Tohoku University method of fasting therapy was performed on 380 patients. The clinical results revealed an efficacy rate of 87%. With regard to psychosomatic diseases, irritable colon syndrome, neurocirculatory asthenia, mild diabetes mellitus, obesity and borderline hypertension were good indications for this therapy. In order to clarify the therapeutic mechanism, several clinical examinations were administered before, during and after therapy. EEG data was analysed according to the power spectral method. The peak frequency decreased as fasting progressed, while it increased as re-fed continued. Percent energy of alpha waves after fasting therapy was significantly higher than that of the pre-fasting stage. The dexamethasone suppression rate of urine 17-OHCS after fasting therapy was significantly lower than that of the pre-fasting stage. It seems that ketone nutrition may work as a strong stressor in the brain cell, temporarily placing all biological mechanisms in a stress state and then activating the natural healing power inherent to the human body, thereby bringing about homeostasis.

Studies on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in a state of malnutrition: a comparison between psychosomatic disease s treated with fasting therapy and anorexia nervosa.
Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi. 1979 Jun 20;55(6):739-60.
Suzuki M, Kamijo K.

Professor Yuriy Nikolaev
Preplanned fasting in the treatment of mental disease: survey of current Soviet literature.
Schizophr Bull. 1977;3(2):288-96.
Boehme DH.

Fasting therapy for psychosomatic diseases with special reference to its indication and therapeutic mechanism.
Tohoku J Exp Med. 1976;118 Suppl:245-59.
Suzuki J, Yamauchi Y, Horikawa M, Yamagata S.
It has been well known that the fasting therapy which was invented in Medical School of Tohoku University reveals an excellent effect upon various kinds of psychosomatic diseases, but its therapeutic mechanism and suitable indication are not yet explained completely. In order to corroborate these problems, this study was undertaken on 262 cases of psychosomatic diseases in the field of internal medicine. It is a complete fasting for 10 days with nothing by mouth except for drinking water, and 500 ml of parenteral fluid containing vitamins are administered intravenously every day. Absolute bed rest and self meditation are required in a closed individual room, and patients are not allowed to meet anyone but physicians and nurse in charge. The return to normal ordinary diet follows the order of fluid diet, soft diet and semiordinary diet during 5 days. In the period of the therapy, various clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out. Significance of these examinations consists in prediction of possible danger during the fasting period and elucidation of its therapeutic mechanism.Consequently, an outstanding efficacy rate of 87% with excellent prognosis was attained, and the following diseases were determined as suitable indication of this therapy; irritable colon, dysorexia nervosa, borderline hypertension, neurocirculatory asthenia, bronchial asthma, mild diabetes mellitus, obesity, lumbago without organic findings, conversion hysteria, various neurosis with somatic symptoms and masked depression. Possible mechanism of action of the therapy is that fasting acts as an extreme stress on the function of the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems, then it regulates the function of whole body including the brain, also it acts as one of the behaviour therapy for abnormal conditioning