Effect of Religious Fasting in Ramadan on Blood Pressure: Results From LORANS (London Ramadan Study) and a Meta‐Analysis

Al-Jafar, Rami; Themeli, Maria Zografou; Zaman, Sadia; Akbar, Sharmin; Lhoste, Victor; Khamliche, Ahlam; Elliott, Paul; Tsilidis, Konstantinos K.; Dehghan, Abbas

doi:10.1161/jaha.120.021560

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The LORANS (London Ramadan Study) is an observational, systematic review, and meta-analysis. 18 In LORANS, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 85 participants were measured before and right after Ramadan. In the systematic review, studies were retrieved from several databases.…”

Section: Highlights Of the Year's Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Ramadan Fasting in Health and Disease in 2021: A Narrative Review

Hassan-Beck

Hafidh

Badi³

et al. 2022

Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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Introduction: The literature on the health aspects of Ramadan fasting (RF) is widely spread in many journals. Materials and Methods: This is a narrative review of data obtained from the PubMed database (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States). We used the search term “Ramadan fasting,” and relevant records were examined. The publications are narrated thematically. Results: The publications spanned fundamental, clinical, professional, cultural, and advocacy facets. The publications crossed conventional disciplinary lines and geographical locations and appeared in journals with different access systems. The contents are presented under the themes that emerged depending on the retrieved literature. This year basic coverage included changes in physiology and nutrition during Ramadan. However, the clinical issues included a wide range of topics. These included the impact of RF on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and adjustments needed in endocrine replacement therapy for hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Coverage also included chronic kidney disease. The impact on maternal health, fetal well-being, and long-term effects of RF exposures were addressed in several studies. Studies in cardiovascular medicine focused on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors. Sports medicine and athletes' well-being received somewhat prominent coverage. The impact on renal function, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease, was investigated by a few authors. Several groups addressed the eyes' structure and function, neurological conditions, especially headache disorders, and hematological and oncological conditions. Finally, the impact of RF on several aspects of mental health and well-being was addressed by various groups. Conclusions: Health aspects of RF received a sustained academic interest with a broad spectrum in 2021. This narration provides an overview of the year's scholarly health-related literature on various aspects of health and disease. It should help researchers and clinicians catch up quickly with the health concerns during Ramadan.

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Section: Highlights Of the Year's Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Ramadan Fasting in Health and Disease in 2021: A Narrative Review

Hassan-Beck

Hafidh

Badi³

et al. 2022

Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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“…Of the 27 included reviews, only one systematic review ( 21 ) and a scoping review ( 22 ) evaluated the effects of Orthodox fasting on health/nutritional outcomes. The remainder reviews ( n = 25) focused on the effects of Ramadan fasting on anthropometric and metabolic markers ( 23 – 25 ), glucometabolic parameters ( 26 – 29 ), salivary flow rate, inflammatory and metabolic variables ( 30 ), immunity, inflammatory markers and infectious events ( 31 – 33 ), blood pressure and cardiovascular events ( 34 – 36 ), liver function ( 37 ), renal function and chronic kidney diseases ( 38 , 39 ), body mass (i.e., body weight) and body composition ( 40 – 42 ), intestinal microbiome changes ( 43 ), hormones regulating appetite and satiety ( 44 ), psychiatric parameters ( 45 ), sleep quality ( 46 ) and pregnancy outcomes ( 47 ). The characteristics and the main outcomes of the included reviews are presented in Table S2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors concluded Ramadan fasting positively impacts cardiometabolic risk factors, which may provide healthy persons short-term protection against cardiovascular diseases ( 29 ). The beneficial effect of Ramadan fasting on systolic and diastolic blood pressure was originally proposed in the meta-analysis by Al-Jafar et al ( 36 ).…”

Section: Religious Fasting Nutrition and Individual Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious fasting and its impacts on individual, public, and planetary health: Fasting as a “religious health asset” for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society

Trabelsi

Ammar²,

Boujelbane³

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

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Religious fasting is practiced by people of all faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Taoism. Individual/clinical, public, global, and planetary health has traditionally been studied as separate entities. Nevertheless, religious fasting, in conjunction with other religious health assets, can provide several opportunities, ranging from the individual to the population, environmental, and planetary levels, by facilitating and supporting societal transformations and changes, such as the adoption of healthier, more equitable, and sustainable lifestyles, therein preserving the Earth's systems and addressing major interconnected, cascading, and compound challenges. In this review, we will summarize the most recent evidence on the effects of religious fasting, particularly Orthodox and Ramadan Islamic fasting, on human and public health. Further, we will explore the potential effects of religious fasting on tackling current environmental issues, with a special focus on nutrition/food restriction and planetary health. Finally, specific recommendations, particularly around dietary intake during the fasting rituals, will be provided to ensure a sustainable healthy planet.

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“…In this meta-analysis and observational study subgrouping of pooled data showed SBP and DBP reduction among healthy, hypertensive and diabetic subgroups but not in the CKD subgroup. 23 Many factors may theoretically influence the blood pressure (BP) during Ramadan. These include feeding patterns, sleep changes and changes in the timing of intake of medication.…”

Section: % 61%mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ramadan in Egyptian people with type 2 diabetes: effect on cardiometabolic parameters

et al. 2022

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Background: Most Muslims with diabetes have a strong desire to fast during the month of Ramadan but some cannot perform it because of the risk of complications such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, dehydration and thrombosis. During Ramadan, the meal pattern and fluid intake are markedly altered and there are delayed and shortened periods of sleep. These changes in meal and sleep rhythm could lead to undesirable changes in metabolism and increased risk of complications. Aims: To study the effect of Ramadan fasting on metabolic parameters and cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: This cohort study was conducted on 80 people with T2D who were intending to fast during Ramadan in the year 2014; the average number of fasting hours was 15 hours. They were subjected to clinical, anthropometric and laboratory evaluation before and after Ramadan. Results: There were significant increases between pre- and post-Ramadan total cholesterol levels (3.77±1.19 mmol/l vs 5.24±1.03 mmol/l, p< 0.001), triglycerides (1.7±0.95 mmol/l vs 2.22±1.51 mmol/l, p< 0.004), LDL-C (2.03±1.08 mmol/l vs 3.04±1.19 mmol/l, p< 0.001), fasting insulin (6.1±3.7 mu/l vs 12.6±8.2 mu/l, p<0.001), HOMA IR (2.42±1.6 IU vs 7.02±8.9 IU, p< 0.001), creatinine (71.62±17.68 umol/l vs 83.11±26.53 umol/l , p< 0.001 ), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (134.9±10.8 mmHg vs 141.2±11.9 mmHg , p< 0.001 ) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ( 94.7±10.7 mmHg vs 101.8±11.3 mmHg, p < 0.001). The 10-year cardiovascular disease risk increased from 5.18±7.8 to 7.6±9.9 (p< 0.001). There was no significant change in body mass index. Conclusion: Ramadan fasting in Egyptian people with T2D appears to have a significant effect on lipid profiles and blood pressure that could adversely impact cardiovascular risk. Current guidance is more focused on glycemic control, with adjustments to oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin dose. Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and guidance prior to Ramadan fasting should not be overlooked.

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Effect of Religious Fasting in Ramadan on Blood Pressure: Results From LORANS (London Ramadan Study) and a Meta‐Analysis

Cited by 35 publications

References 54 publications

Ramadan Fasting in Health and Disease in 2021: A Narrative Review

Ramadan Fasting in Health and Disease in 2021: A Narrative Review

Religious fasting and its impacts on individual, public, and planetary health: Fasting as a “religious health asset” for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society

Ramadan in Egyptian people with type 2 diabetes: effect on cardiometabolic parameters

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