Scientific publications on fasting‑mimicking diets (FMD)

For those who want to read more about the science behind our reSET program, here is a list of peer‑reviewed scientific publications on fasting‑mimicking diets (FMD).

A fasting-mimicking diet is emerging as one of the most researched nutrition strategies to promote healthy longevity, improve metabolism and potentially support cancer treatment outcomes. Unlike chronic calorie restriction, it uses short, structured 5‑day cycles that trigger many of the same cellular repair and rejuvenation pathways as water fasting, while remaining food‑based and more practical for real life.

Recent randomized clinical trials suggest that these periodic cycles can reduce insulin resistance, liver fat and markers of immune system aging, with some studies reporting an average 2.5‑year reduction in biological age, and early oncology data indicate that fasting-mimicking protocols may help patients better tolerate chemotherapy.

Human clinical and translational studies

Wei M et al. “Fasting-mimicking diet and markers/risk factors for aging, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in humans: a randomized controlled trial.” Sci Transl Med, 2017.
Link here

Choi IY et al. “Fasting-mimicking diet causes hepatic and blood marker changes indicating reduced liver fat and biological age in adults.” Nat Commun, 2024.
Link here

Vernieri C et al. “Cyclic fasting-mimicking diet in cancer treatment.” Cell Rep Med (or similar translational journal), 2024.
Link here

Micarelli A et al. “Chemosensory and cardiometabolic improvements after a fasting-mimicking diet: a randomized cross-over clinical trial.” 2025.
Link here

“Fasting-Mimicking Diet Is Safe and Reshapes Metabolism and Immunity in Cancer Patients.” Cancer Discovery, 2022 (trial in patients receiving cancer therapy).
Link here

FMD as adjunct to chemotherapy (breast cancer)

de Groot S et al. “Fasting mimicking diet as an adjunct to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2‑negative stage II/III breast cancer: a randomized controlled study.” Nat Commun, 2020.
Link here

Bahrami A et al. “Fasting mimicking diet during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: effects on toxicity and metabolic parameters in breast cancer patients.” Front Nutr, 2024.
Link here

de Gruil N et al. “A randomized phase III trial with a fasting mimicking diet in combination with chemotherapy in breast cancer (trial-in-progress report).” J Clin Oncol, 2023 (ASCO abstract).
Link here

Organ‑specific and mechanistic FMD work

“A kidney-specific fasting-mimicking diet induces podocyte protection and improves kidney function” (or similar wording). Sci Transl Med, 2024.
Link here

Choi IY et al. “A diet mimicking fasting promotes regeneration and reduces autoimmunity and multiple sclerosis–like symptoms in mice.” Cell Rep, 2016 (cited in newer FMD papers).
Link here

Recent review: “Effects of the periodic fasting-mimicking diet on health, lifespan, and disease: current evidence and mechanisms.” 2025 review article.
Link here

Neurological disease and reviews

Song Y et al. “The potential of fasting-mimicking diet as a preventive and therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease.” Nutrients, 2023.
Link here

Additional narrative/overview reviews on FMD, longevity, and disease prevention by Longo and colleagues, 2023–2025.
Link here

Brief comparison table