Metabolic and hormonal effects of fasting in obese children.

A 30 hour fast induced a significant and comparable fall in blood glucose and branched-chain amino acid levels in both obese and control children, while the plasma levels of glycerol, lactate, pyruvate, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and the rest of the amino acids remained unchanged. Sustained hyperinsulinism, sustained higher triglyceride levels and a lower degree of FFA mobilization characterized the plasma of obese children during fasting.