Actively Recruiting
The Meta-SHIFT Study: How Metabolic Shift Shapes Human Immunometabolism - a Fasting Trial
Led by Cornell University · Updated on 2026-05-07
28
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
26 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
During fasting, the body shifts from using carbohydrates to relying more on fat as its main source of energy. This process is known as the 'metabolic shift'. Fat tissue helps supply this energy by breaking down stored fat into fatty acids, which are released into the bloodstream and transported to organs throughout the body. In addition to fatty acids, many other substances in the blood (such as metabolites) change during fasting to help maintain normal body function. Immune cells also circulate in the blood and play an important role in protecting the body against infections and diseases such as cancer. However, it is not yet well understood how the metabolic shift during fasting affects immune cell function. The purpose of this study is to investigate how 24 hours of fasting influences immune cell metabolism and function.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
The Meta-SHIFT Study: How Metabolic Shift Shapes Human Immunometabolism - a Fasting Trial
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Apparently healthy
- Age 18-40 years at the time of recruitment
- Body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2
- Willing to participate in all study activities during the 3-day intervention
- Signed informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosed with any chronic medical condition that can interfere with the study outcome (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, liver disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disease, long COVID, PASC)
- Bleeding disorder (e.g., Hemophilia A/B, Von Willebrand Disease, or low platelets), current anemia or current use of blood thinners or anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin, heparin)
- Any acute or chronic infection disease or fever in the past month
- Antibiotic use in the past 2 months
- Use of any prescribed medications (including GLP-1 agonists), except for contraceptives
- Usage of recreational drugs in the last three months
- Unstable body weight (weight gain or loss >5% of total body weight in the past three months)
- Following any restrictive diet within one month of starting the study (for example a ketogenic diet or weight loss diet)
- Fasted for 16 hours or longer in the past week
- History of an eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder)
- Allergic to one or more components of the standardized meal and/or shake (i.e., milk, wheat, and soy)
- Average alcohol intake that exceeds 1 consumption/day or 7 consumptions/week over the past month
- Tobacco smoker or regular use of nicotine products
- Donated or intend to donate blood from 2 months before the study until the end of the study
- Being pregnant or lactating
- Participation in another biomedical study during this study
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Human Metabolic Research Unit, Division of Nutritional Sciences. Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, United States, 14853
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
L
Larissa van der Zon, MS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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