The Study
Feasibility of protein-sparing modified fast by tube (ProMoFasT) in obesity treatment: a phase II pilot trial on clinical safety and efficacy (appetite control, body composition, muscular strength, metabolic pattern, pulmonary function test)
This study watched 22 people lose weight and feel better after a special tube diet, but it didn't compare them to others who didn't do the diet. So we can say they changed, but we don't know if the diet caused it — maybe they ate less or moved more without realizing it.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested a special 10-day diet where obese people got all their food through a tube in their nose — no carbs, just protein and vitamins — then switched to a low-calorie diet for 20 more days.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 545 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — losing fat without losing muscle, improving breathing, and reducing hunger in just 10 days is a big deal for obese people preparing for surgery or struggling with weight loss.
- 2People lost 6.1 kg in 10 days and 5.9 kg total after 30 days.
- 3They lost 3.8 kg of fat but kept their muscle.
- 4Their appetite dropped and stayed low, their lungs worked better, and their blood sugar and insulin improved.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Year
2013
Authors
S. Sukkar, bullet A Signori, bullet C Borrini, bullet G Barisione, bullet C Ivaldi, bullet C Romeo, bullet R Gradaschi, bullet N Machello, bullet E Nanetti, B. A. Vaccaro, A. Borrini, A. Romeo, Á. R. Gradaschi, Á. N. Machello, A. Nanetti, A. Vaccaro, A. Signori, G. Barisione, C. Ivaldi
Related Content
Claims (6)
Obese adults with a BMI of 30 or higher who followed a 10-day protein-sparing fast through a feeding tube and then a 20-day low-calorie diet lost 6.1 kilograms after 10 days and 5.9 kilograms after 30 days, with 3.8 kilograms of the loss coming from fat mass while muscle mass did not change.
Obese adults who receive a 10-day protein-sparing modified fast through a nasogastric tube experience a significant reduction in appetite that lasts for at least 30 days, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale.
In obese adults, a 10-day low-calorie, high-protein diet given through a tube lowers fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, and liver enzymes.
A protein-sparing modified fast reduces liver glycogen stores, lowers insulin levels, and increases the body's use of fat for energy.
In obese adults, a 10-day protein-sparing modified fast delivered through a tube in the nose and stomach is linked to measurable improvements in lung volume and breathing capacity, even without major weight loss.
Obese adults who follow a 10-day protein-sparing modified fast through a nasogastric tube maintain their handgrip strength despite losing weight and fat-free mass.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.