Popular weight-loss strategy shows surprising potential for chronic pain relief

Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity as a weight-loss strategy, but it could also unlock new ways to manage chronic pain by altering how the gut communicates with the brain.

A study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, revealed that the timing of meals affects the gut-brain axis, which is a communication system linking the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that focuses on when meals are consumed, typically involving extended periods without food, according to health institutions.

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Chronic pain, defined by the Cleveland Clinic as pain persisting for longer than three months, is often accompanied by cognitive difficulties and anxiety.

While traditional treatments target inflammation or pain-signaling nerves, the new research suggests that meal timing may also influence chronic pain by changing gut bacteria and inflammation throughout the body.

Scientists at Zhengzhou University in China examined animal models during fasting cycles. They found that intermittent fasting strengthens the intestinal lining, which prevents inflammatory compounds from leaking into the bloodstream and reaching nervous system tissue.

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Analysis of the gut microbiome found that fasting increased levels of a bacterium called Alistipes finegoldii. When researchers administered the live bacteria to animals that were not fasting, they saw similar improvements in pain and cognitive function.

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The researchers found that the bacterium produces compounds that the body can convert into hippuric acid, a chemical messenger linked to the observed benefits.

At the cellular level, hippuric acid acts on an inflammatory pathway called STING, short for Stimulator of Interferon Genes. When this pathway becomes overactive in the nervous system, it can fuel inflammation that worsens pain and interferes with brain function.

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The study demonstrated that hippuric acid turns down STING activity, quieting inflammatory signaling in the central nervous system and resolving behavioral symptoms.

Despite the findings, the research carries a few limitations, the research team acknowledged.

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First, observational and early-stage studies can identify a link between intermittent fasting and changes in gut-brain signaling, but they cannot prove that fasting directly causes those changes.

Also, individual responses to intermittent fasting vary based on each person's gut microbiome, underlying health conditions, daily nutrient intake and genetics.

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It can also be challenging for some people to adhere to fasting protocols, as strict eating windows may not be safe or feasible for everyone.

While fasting is not a cure for chronic pain, researchers said the findings could help guide future treatments that target the gut-brain connection.

They added that further trials will be necessary to establish specific dietary protocols tailored to individual patient needs.