Is a Fasting Effect Possible Without Going Hungry?

A new clinical study has shown that a fasting-mimetic supplement called "Mimio" may provide notable metabolic health benefits without actual fasting. The controlled study included 42 overweight adults with elevated HbA1c levels and an average age of 62. For eight weeks, participants took either Mimio or a placebo (resembling Mimio) before breakfast.

Mimio is made up of ingredients such as spermidine, nicotinamide, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), and oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and aims to trigger the biological pathways that are activated in the body during fasting. According to the results, people taking Mimio felt less hungry and more full, and their mealtime appetite improved markedly. A reduction in digestive problems such as abdominal pain and bloating was also observed.

The supplement's most notable effects were seen in cardiometabolic markers. Significant decreases were recorded in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL, and fasting glucose levels. Nevertheless, no significant change was found in measures of quality of life and cognitive performance. The researchers also reported no difference in serious side effects.

In conclusion, although fasting-mimetic supplements such as Mimio have the potential to provide fasting-like metabolic benefits without calorie restriction, more extensive research is needed to confirm these effects in the long term.

Reference:

Grant AD. A novel fasting mimetic (Mimio) creates fasting-like benefits to hunger control, oxidative stress, and cardiometabolic health in humans. Sci Rep. 2026; DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-38495-7.