Isomalto-oligosaccharide with intermittent fasting and cognition in mice
What it found
In mice fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet, intermittent fasting combined with isomalto-oligosaccharide improved signs of cognitive impairment more than fasting alone.
The work was done in mice, with some checks against human database information.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Cognition in mice
Both intermittent fasting and the combination with isomalto-oligosaccharide eased the cognitive impairments caused by the high-fat, high-fructose diet in mice. The combination had stronger effects than fasting alone.
Brain inflammation pathways
Analysis of the hippocampus suggested the cognitive protection came from suppressing TLR4/NFκB signaling, oxidative phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation.
Gut bacteria and fatty acids
Both diets changed the gut microbiome and increased short-chain fatty acid production in mice, with the combination showing more pronounced effects.
Microbiome transplant
Transplanting fecal microbiome from the combination group directly improved cognition in mice by suppressing TLR4/NFκB signaling and raising BDNF levels.
Weight regain protection
Earlier exposure to the combination prevented cognitive decline during weight regain, reduced TLR4/NFκB signaling and inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus, and eased gut bacteria problems without changing body weight.
Studies in people and animals
Human database check
The gut bacteria, metabolites, and molecular targets linked to cognitive impairment in the mice were also found in human data from the public databases Gmrepo and gutMgene.
What the authors conclude
“Our study underscores that IMO-augmented alleviating effects of IF on obesity-related cognitive impairment particularly during weight-loss and weight-regain periods, presenting a novel nutritional strategy to tackle obesity-related neurodegenerative disorders.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that isomalto-oligosaccharide boosts the easing effects of intermittent fasting on obesity-related cognitive impairment, especially during weight loss and weight regain.
- They present this as a novel nutritional strategy to tackle obesity-related neurodegenerative disorders.
How it was done
Obesity-related cognitive dysfunction is a significant threat to public health. The authors wanted to test whether intermittent fasting, and fasting combined with isomalto-oligosaccharide, could ease these cognitive problems.
Mice were fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet to induce obesity-related cognitive impairment. They were then given intermittent fasting alone or intermittent fasting plus isomalto-oligosaccharide, and the effects were tracked during weight loss and weight regain. The team also did a fecal microbiome transplant and compared their findings with human data from public databases.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are mouse studies. They can't show what happens in people.
- The human database checks only looked for links, so they can't prove cause and effect in people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Shaanxi Normal University, China; Henan University of Technology, China; Qinghai University, China
The paper
- Title
- Isomalto-Oligosaccharide Potentiates Alleviating Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Obesity-Related Cognitive Impairment during Weight Loss and the Rebound Weight Gain
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Liu T, Zhou L, Dong R, et al (2024). Isomalto-Oligosaccharide Potentiates Alleviating Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Obesity-Related Cognitive Impairment during Weight Loss and the Rebound Weight Gain. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07351PubMed 39431286DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error