Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a widely practiced dietary regimen, increasingly utilized in both clinical and non-clinical settings for its potential health benefits. Evidence suggests that IF can improve metabolic health by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and aiding weight management. Recent studies have also explored its role in mitigating obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and its ability to support cardiovascular health and mental function. The effects of IF, however, vary depending on individual health conditions. Some patients show no clinical improvement, while others experience worsened outcomes. Mechanistically, IF induces metabolic switching and activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), both of which contribute to its therapeutic potential. These responses are influenced by factors such as underlying pathology, baseline metabolic state, and dietary composition. While preclinical data indicate potential therapeutic effects in diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative conditions, these findings are not yet sufficiently supported by human studies. This review argues that IF holds promise as a disease-modifying intervention. However, its implementation should be personalized according to patient-specific characteristics, and future clinical trials must prioritize identifying optimal fasting protocols to maximize therapeutic outcomes.

Semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene over metal oxide-supported Au nanoparticles is an interesting topic. Here, a hydrotalcite-based MMgAlO_x (M=Cu, Ni, and Co) composite oxide was exploited by introducing different Cu, Ni, and Co dopants with unique properties, and then used as support to obtain Au/MMgAlO_x catalysts via a modified deposition–precipitation method. XRD, BET, ICP-OES, TEM, Raman, XPS, and TPD were employed to investigate their physic-chemical properties and catalytic performances for the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene. Generally, the catalytic activity of the Cu-modified Au/CuMgAlO_x catalyst was higher than that of the other modified catalysts. The TOR for Au/CuMgAlO_x was 0.0598 h⁻¹, which was 30 times higher than that of Au/MgAl₂O₄. The SEM and XRD results showed no significant difference in structure or morphology after introducing the dopants. These dopants had an unfavorable effect on the Au particle size, as confirmed by the TEM studies. Accordingly, the effects on catalytic performance of the M dopant of the obtained Au/MMgAlO_x catalyst were improved. Results of Raman, NH₃-TPD, and CO₂-TPD confirmed that the Au/CuMgAlO_x catalyst had more basic sites, which is beneficial for less coking on the catalyst surface after the reaction. XPS analysis showed that gold nanoparticles exhibited a partially oxidized state at the edges and surfaces of CuMgAlO_x. Besides an increased proportion of basic sites on Au/CuMgAlO_x catalysts, the charge transfer from nanogold to the Cu-doped matrix support probably played a positive role in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene. The stability and deactivation of Au/CuMgAlO_x catalysts were also discussed and a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.

Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a widely practiced dietary regimen, increasingly utilized in both clinical and non-clinical settings for its potential health benefits. Evidence suggests that IF can improve metabolic health by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and aiding weight management. Recent studies have also explored its role in mitigating obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and its ability to support cardiovascular health and mental function. However, the effects of IF are not universally beneficial, with a significant portion of patients showing no clinical improvement or even worsened outcomes. The mechanisms underlying IF, including metabolic switching and activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), suggest that the benefits of IF may be context-dependent, varying with individual pathologies and metabolic states. While preclinical data indicate potential therapeutic effects in diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative conditions, these findings are not yet sufficiently supported by human studies. Moreover, while IF’s impact on fat metabolism and lipolysis is well-documented, its effects on muscle function and long-term metabolic health, particularly in athletes or those with advanced disease, require further investigation. This review argues that while IF holds promise as a disease-modifying strategy, its application must be tailored to individual patient profiles, and future clinical trials should focus on optimizing fasting protocols to enhance therapeutic outcomes.