Fasting and gut bacterium work together to prime intestines for radiation repair, study finds
MD Anderson researchers identify mechanism that could lead to safer cancer therapy
A new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that a 24-hour fast prepares the small intestine to recover from radiation damage, but only with the help of a specific gut bacterium. The preclinical research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that fasting increases the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, which produces propionate to ready intestinal cells for regeneration.