Intermittent Fasting on the Blood Microbiome

The investigators previously demonstrated that the gut microbiome can be remodeled by one month of intermittent fasting (OMIF) in healthy volunteers and animal models, with a notable alteration observed in its overall composition which could be linked to improvement in liver function. The blood microbiome, which mirrors the human ecosystem and includes all microbes mainly including bacteria, archaea, and viruses, is a new-identified human microbiome assessment tool that is assumed to be more stable and representative than the gut microbiome, with substantial potential for the diagnosis and prediction of liver cirrhosis and cancer. However, the effect of OMIF, which mimics lifestyle change typically advised in liver disease, on this blood microbiome remains elusive at best. The aim of this study is to explore whether OMIF remodels the composition and function of the blood microbiome in healthy volunteers, through a Randomized controlled cross-over trial, with secondary outcomes on the association of blood microbiome with the gut microbiome.