Figure 2.

Forty-four metabolites that increase during fasting include antioxidants, organic acids and signalling-related compounds. Non-targeted comprehensive metabolomics of whole blood detected increases of one-third (44) of metabolites identified during 58 h of fasting. In addition to metabolites for energy production, antioxidative metabolites were identified as fasting markers, which may combat oxidative stress resulting from enhanced mitochondrial activity. Moreover, signalling metabolites would contribute for remodelling of metabolic homeostasis during fasting. See the text for details. Abbreviations: ET; ergothioneine, OA; ophthalmic acid, PPP; pentose phosphate pathway, 3-HB; 3-hydroxybutyrate and 2-OG; 2-oxoglutarate.