Mitophagy and Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics During Ramadan Dry Fasting vs 16:8 Time-Restricted Feeding (MITO FAST)

June 5, 2026 updated by: Ibrahim Ibrahim Shuaibu, MD, Bahcesehir Cyprus University

Mitophagic Flux and Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics During Circadian-Aligned Ramadan Dry Fasting Versus 16:8 Time-Restricted Feeding: A Four-Phase Translational Research Programme

This study investigates how different types of fasting affect cell health, specifically focusing on how mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) are cleared and renewed. While standard intermittent fasting allows water intake, Ramadan dry fasting involves total restriction of both food and fluids from dawn to sunset.

Researchers want to see if the combined effects of fluid restriction and natural daily body rhythms during Ramadan trigger a stronger cellular cleanup process (called mitophagy) compared to standard 16:8 water-permitted fasting. The study will look at how these fasting habits change blood markers related to mitochondrial DNA and metabolic health across a 30-day period. This research will help determine if dry fasting offers distinct biological benefits for cellular renewal.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, single-centre, parallel-group, longitudinal observational cohort study conducted across Ramadan 2027. The study aims to evaluate the distinct molecular and metabolic trajectories of intermittent dry fasting compared to standard fluid-permitted time-restricted feeding (TRF).

Participants will be allocated to one of two parallel groups based on their self-selected, established fasting practices:

  • Group A (Ramadan Dry Fasting): Observing complete fluid and nutrient deprivation from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) for 30 consecutive days.
  • Group B (16:8 TRF): Practicing a 16-hour daily fasting window with water/fluids permitted, observed concurrently during the same calendar period.

Participants in both groups will be pairwise-matched based on age and BMI at screening. Blood samples will be collected from all participants at five distinct milestones:

  • T0: Pre-Ramadan baseline (Day -3)
  • T1: Acute induction phase (Day 7)
  • T2: Mitochondrial turnover phase (Day 14)
  • T3: Saturation plateau / primary endpoint (Day 30)
  • T4: Post-Ramadan recovery phase (Day 44)

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum will be isolated from the collected blood. Laboratory analyses will measure mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number changes via qPCR, alongside a quantitative gene expression panel evaluating key regulators of mitophagy (such as PINK1 and Parkin), mitochondrial biogenesis, and general autophagy. Secondary evaluations include routine serum metabolic indicators, inflammatory markers, and dietary monitoring to evaluate the physiological pathways predicted by computational systems pharmacology.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Cyprus
      • Nicosia, Cyprus
        • Near East University
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Adanze Cynthia Nge

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 50 with a BMI between 18.5 and 30.0 kg/m². The cohort represents individuals who are either observing the religious dry fast of Ramadan or concurrently practicing standard 16:8 time-restricted feeding. Participants are recruited from the academic and local communities of Bahçeşehir Cyprus University and Near East University in Nicosia, Northern Cyprus[cite: 1]. The sample includes both males and females who do not smoke, have stable sleep-wake cycles, and are free from chronic diseases requiring regular prescription medications[cite: 1].

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Common Criteria (Both Arms):
  • Age 18-50 years
  • BMI 18.5-30.0 kg/m²[cite: 1]
  • Non-smoker for at least 12 months[cite: 1]
  • No chronic disease requiring regular prescription medication[cite: 1]
  • Stable sleep-wake schedule (self-reported sleep midpoint deviation less than 90 minutes)[cite: 1]
  • Willing and able to attend all five study visits at the specified times[cite: 1]

Arm A Specific (Ramadan Dry Fasting):

- Documented religious commitment and intention to complete all 30 days of Ramadan 2027 fasting[cite: 1]

Arm B Specific (16:8 TRF Control):

  • Confirmed practice of 16:8 TRF (fasting window 16 hours or more per day) throughout the study period[cite: 1]
  • Not observing Ramadan dry fasting during the study period[cite: 1]

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Established type 1 or type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 6.5% or higher or pharmacological antidiabetic therapy)[cite: 1]
  • Severe gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal disease (eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73m²)[cite: 1]
  • Active cancer or chemotherapy within five years[cite: 1]
  • Use of metformin, statins, or exogenous antioxidant supplements (vitamins C, E, NAC, CoQ10) within 30 days of screening[cite: 1]
  • Pregnancy, lactation, or planned conception during the study period[cite: 1]
  • Participation in another clinical study within three months[cite: 1]
  • Inability to provide written informed consent in Arabic or English[cite: 1]

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Arm A: Ramadan Dry Fasting
Participants observing complete, daily fluid and nutrient deprivation from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) for 30 consecutive days during Ramadan 2027
Behavioral: Ramadan Intermittent Dry Fasting (Sawm)
Total fluid and nutrient restriction enforced daily from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) for 30 consecutive days. Food and fluid consumption are restricted to the nocturnal period
Arm B: 16:8 Time-Restricted Feeding
Pairwise-matched control participants practicing a fluid-permitted, 16-hour daily fasting window observed concurrently during the same calendar period
Behavioral: 16:8 Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF)
A 16-hour daily fasting window where calorie-containing foods and beverages are completely restricted. Fluid intake (such as water or uncaloried drinks) is permitted throughout the fasting period

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Between-arm difference in PINK1 and Parkin mitophagy gene expression
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Day -3) to Day 30 of the fasting period
Relative expression levels of PINK1 and Parkin mRNA will be quantified via probe-based quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Normalization will be performed using the geometric mean of housekeeping genes GAPDH and B2M. Evaluation will focus on the between-arm contrast (Arm A vs. Arm B) of the change metric using relative quantification (2^-ΔΔCt).
Change from baseline (Day -3) to Day 30 of the fasting period
Between-arm difference in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtCN)
Time Frame: Change from baseline (Day -3) to Day 30 of the fasting period
Mitochondrial DNA copy number will be quantified by qPCR targeting the mitochondrial reference region MT-RNR1 (12S rRNA), normalized to the nuclear reference gene B2M. Relative mtCN is calculated using the formula: 2 × (Ct_nuclear - Ct_mtDNA). The primary evaluation is the between-arm difference in net change at Day 30 to test for a predicted U-shaped cellular trajectory
Change from baseline (Day -3) to Day 30 of the fasting period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bahcesehir Cyprus University

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Berna Uzun, Operational Research Institute in Healthcare, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

January 15, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 15, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Bahcesehir Cyprus University

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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