Scientists in the United States found that a 24-hour fast helped laboratory animals recover from damage to the gut after radiation. This study was published on 8 November by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The scientists discovered that a special gut bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila became more common in the intestine after fasting, and this bacterium seemed to help repair the gut lining.

The most important reason for this result was the action of Akkermansia muciniphila, which increased after fasting. This bacterium made a substance called propionate that helped gut cells begin to fix themselves. When the scientists removed this bacterium in their experiments, fasting no longer helped the gut, so both the bacterium and fasting were needed for the repair effect.

Because of this research, scientists now hope they can find new ways to protect healthy tissue during cancer treatment. However, this study was only done in animals, not people, so fasting is not a proven treatment for humans yet. More research is needed to see if this will work safely in people.