Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40591178›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2025

The Potential Protective Effects of Intermittent Fasting Against Radiation-Induced Brain Damage in a Rat Model: Suggested Involvement of IRS-1/PI3 K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB Signaling Pathways.

Eman F S Taha, Hebatallah E Mohamed, Lobna M Anees, Hayam Mostafa, Eman S Eldin

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Research Progress on Dietary Intervention in Radiation Protection.Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Eman F S TahaHealth Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt. emanfayezsaid@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2337-688X
Hebatallah E MohamedRadiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.
Lobna M AneesHealth Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt. Lobnaanis@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9730-1237
Hayam MostafaRadiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4746-5134
Eman S EldinHealth Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2505-2590

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fasting has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders, offering protection against insults such as ionizing radiation (IR), which can cause irreversible brain damage. Intermittent fasting (IF), including alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF), is being explored for its neuroprotective effects with potential involvement of key signaling pathways such as IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups: normal feeding (NF, ad libitum feeding), ADF, TRF (6-h feeding window), NF plus radiation (NF-irradiated, 20-Gy cranial exposure), ADF plus radiation (ADF-irradiated), and TRF plus radiation (TRF-irradiated). Oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, liver and kidney function parameters, and gene/protein expression levels (IRS1, AKT1, PI3K, GFAP, 8-OHdG, BDNF, TrkB) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR, complemented by histopathological analysis. IR significantly impaired antioxidant defenses (GSH, GST, CAT), suppressed IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB signaling, and elevated oxidative damage markers (MDA, ROS, 8-OHdG), inflammation (GFAP), and markers of organ dysfunction (ALT, AST, GGT, urea, creatinine). Both IF regimens mitigated these effects; however, TRF demonstrated greater efficacy than ADF. TRF more effectively reduced oxidative stress, improved antioxidant enzyme activity, and more robustly restored metabolic and neurotrophic signaling pathways. Both ADF and TRF provided neuroprotection against radiation-induced brain injury, but TRF exhibited superior outcomes in reducing oxidative stress and preserving neuronal integrity. These findings highlight TRF as a potentially more effective dietary strategy for mitigating radiation-induced neurotoxicity, with possible contributions from the modulation of IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB pathways.

Indexed as

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorBrain InjuriesFastingInsulin Receptor Substrate ProteinsPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktReceptor, trkBSignal TransductionAnimalsAntioxidantsBrainDisease Models, AnimalIntermittent FastingMaleOxidative StressRatsAntioxidantsBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorInsulin Receptor Substrate ProteinsIrs1 protein, ratPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktReceptor, trkBBDNF/TrkBGFAPIntermittent fastingIonizing radiationIRS-1/PI3 K/AKT

Identifiers

PMID40591178
PMCPMC12511218

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.