Thermodynamic Assessment of the Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Fatty Liver Disease Diets on Longevity

Abstract

Organisms uptake energy from their diet and maintain a highly organized structure by importing energy and exporting entropy. A fraction of the generated entropy is accumulated in their bodies, thus causing ageing. Hayflick’s entropic age concept suggests that the lifespan of organisms is determined by the amount of entropy they generate. Organisms die after reaching their lifespan entropy generation limit. On the basis of the lifespan entropy generation concept, this study suggests that an intermittent fasting diet, which means skipping some meals without increasing the calories uptake in the other courses, may increase longevity. More than 1.32 million people died in 2017 because of chronic liver diseases, and a quarter of the world’s population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There are no specific dietary guidelines available for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases but shifting to a healthier diet is recommended as the primary treatment. A healthy obese person may generate 119.9 kJ/kg K per year of entropy and generate a total of 4796 kJ/kg K entropy in the first 40 years of life. If obese persons continue to consume the same diet, they may have 94 years of life expectancy. After age 40, Child–Pugh Score A, B, and C NAFLD patients may generate 126.2, 149.9, and 272.5 kJ/kg K year of entropy and have 92, 84, and 64 years of life expectancy, respectively. If they were to make a major recommended shift in their diet, the life expectancy of Child–Pugh Score A, B, and C patients may increase by 29, 32, and 43 years, respectively.