# Fasting-mimicking diet (FMD)

The fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) is a 5-day plan that is low in calories, low in protein, and plant-based. Valter Longo's group designed it. It copies the metabolic effects of a water-only fast (lower IGF-1, glucose, and insulin, plus higher ketones) while still letting you eat some food. The main trials used 3 cycles, spaced a month apart. They reported better cardiometabolic risk markers and less belly fat. Hints of a benefit on biological-age estimates rest on secondary analyses (Brandhorst et al. 2024, Nature Communications), so treat them as preliminary.

## Sources

- Wei M, Brandhorst S, Shelehchi M, Mirzaei H, Cheng CW, Budniak J, et al.. (2017). Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Science Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aai8700
- Brandhorst S, Levine ME, Wei M, et al.. (2024). Fasting-mimicking diet causes hepatic and blood markers changes indicating reduced biological age and disease risk. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45260-9

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