News | Lasting Effects of Time-Restricted Feeding on Sperm and Egg Quality
A University of East Anglia (UEA) study suggests intermittent time-restricted feeding may negatively affect fertility. Effects differed between male and female zebrafish, and some persisted after normal feeding resumed.
Background and Findings
Time-restricted feeding limits food intake to certain hours and is popular for potential weight and health benefits. Researchers noted that food-deprivation stress may also affect reproductive-cell quality.
Using zebrafish (Danio rerio), researchers assessed body maintenance and gamete quality during fasting and after normal feeding resumed. They found:
Females produced more eggs after normal feeding resumed, but egg quality and offspring quality declined.
Male sperm quality was also negatively affected.
Prof Alexei Maklakov said the effects on sperm and egg production and quality could persist after normal feeding resumed.
Implications for Future Research
Dr Edward Ivimey-Cook explained that organisms shifted resources toward body maintenance after feeding resumed, at the expense of gamete quality.
Further research should determine how long sperm and egg quality takes to recover after fasting.
Collaboration and Funding
The study involved UEA and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), with funding from the ERC, BBSRC, and NERC.
The paper, “Increased somatic investment in zebrafish during fasting impacts germline quality,” was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
News | Lasting Effects of Time-Restricted Feeding on Sperm and Egg Quality
News | Lasting Effects of Time-Restricted Feeding on Sperm and Egg Quality
A University of East Anglia (UEA) study suggests intermittent time-restricted feeding may negatively affect fertility. Effects differed between male and female zebrafish, and some persisted after normal feeding resumed.
Background and Findings
Time-restricted feeding limits food intake to certain hours and is popular for potential weight and health benefits. Researchers noted that food-deprivation stress may also affect reproductive-cell quality.
Using zebrafish (Danio rerio), researchers assessed body maintenance and gamete quality during fasting and after normal feeding resumed. They found:
Females produced more eggs after normal feeding resumed, but egg quality and offspring quality declined.
Male sperm quality was also negatively affected.
Prof Alexei Maklakov said the effects on sperm and egg production and quality could persist after normal feeding resumed.
Implications for Future Research
Dr Edward Ivimey-Cook explained that organisms shifted resources toward body maintenance after feeding resumed, at the expense of gamete quality.
Further research should determine how long sperm and egg quality takes to recover after fasting.
Collaboration and Funding
The study involved UEA and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), with funding from the ERC, BBSRC, and NERC.
The paper, “Increased somatic investment in zebrafish during fasting impacts germline quality,” was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Source:
Collected online