Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Inspiratory Muscle Function

Abstract

BackgroundRamadan fasting is a major challenge for exercising Muslims especially in warm seasons. There is some evidence to indicate that Ramadan fasting causes higher subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in fasting Muslims. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are not known exactly. The role of respiratory muscle strength in this regard has not been studied yet.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was investigation of the effects of Ramadan fasting on respiratory muscle strength.Patients and MethodsIn a before-after study, from 35 fasting, apparently healthy, male adults who had fasted from the beginning of Ramadan, maximal inspiratory muscle pressure (MIP) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) were measured in the last week of Ramadan month in summer. At the time of test, there was not any sleep problem in participants and all of them had good cooperation. Three months later, after exclusion of incompatible persons mainly because of change in their physical activity level, smoking behavior or drug consumption, the measurements were repeated in 12 individuals.ResultsWeight, MIP and PIF data had normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test). There was a significant increase in MIP (mean 8.3 cm H2O with 95% confidence interval of 2.2 - 14.3) and PIF (mean 0.55 lit/s with 95% confidence interval of 0.02 - 1.07) and weight (mean 3.4 Kg with 95% confidence interval of 2.2 - 4.5) after Ramadan (Paired t test with P < 0.05). When weight difference was used as a covariate in repeated measure ANOVA test, there was no further significant difference between MIP and PIF measurements.ConclusionsRamadan fasting may cause reduction of respiratory muscle strength through reduction of body weight.

The Effects of Ramadan-Fasting (RF) on Inflammatory and Hematological Indices of Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Male Patients: A Pilot Study

“…Nevertheless, among the 18 studies evaluating the effects of RF on the lung function and/or inflammatory and/or hematological data of healthy and/or asthmatics and/or COPD adults, only two achieved in India and Iran ( Askari et al, 2016 ; Singha Roy & Bandyopadhyay, 2016 ) involved control-groups. The remaining 16 studies conducted in Muslim and non-Muslim states [Iran ( Adeli et al, 2015 ; Moosavi, Kabir, Moghimi, Chehrei, & Rad, 2007 ; Norouzy et al., 2013 ; Sarraf-Zadegan et al, 2000 ; Sedaghat et al, 2017 ; Soori, Mohaghegh, Hajain, & Moraadi, 2016 ), Saudi-Arabia ( Siddiqui, Sabir, & Subhan, 2005 ; Subhan, Siddiqui, Khan, & Sabir, 2006 ); Tunisia ( Latiri et al, 2017 ; Zouari et al, 2018 ), Malaysia ( Duncan, Husain, Raman, Cheah, & Ch’ng, 1990 ), Egypt ( Abdel-aziz & Ibraheem, 2008 ), Jordan ( Al Hourani et al, 2009 ), Irak ( Baay, 2017 ), Qatar ( Bener et al, 2006 ), India ( Sayeed, Hazari, & Arifuddin, 2018 )] used Before-R or During-R data as control. Thirdly, it was desirable to assess the COPD patients’ nutrition.…”

The Effects of Ramadan Fasting on the Spirometric Data of Healthy Adult Males

“…Numerous animal samples have been designed to evaluate the longtime starvation effect on respiratory mechanic function (Harkema, Mauderly, Gregory, & Pickrell, 1984; Sahebjami & MacGee, 1985), but few human case studies have been conducted on sick (Aaron et al, 2004; Bener et al, 2006; Harkema et al, 1984; Norouzy et al, 2013; Sahebjami & MacGee, 1985; Stenius-Aarniala et al, 2000) or healthy (Abdel-aziz & Ibraheem, 2008; Duncan et al, 1990; Moosavi et al, 2007; Roy & Bandyopadhyay, 2016; Siddiqui et al, 2005; Soori, Mohaghegh, Hajain, & Moraadi, 2016; Subhan et al, 2006) subjects. In 1,590 asthmatic Muslim subjects, the FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC, MMEF, and PEF mean values did not identify any statistically significant differences between before-R, mid-R, and after-R sessions (Bener et al, 2006).…”

The Effects of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting (RIF) on Spirometric Data of Stable COPD Patients: A Pilot Study

“…Almost 3% of Muslim patients with lung cancer ( Tas et al, 2014 ) and 93% of Turkish chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients ( Aydin et al, 2014 ) are Ramadan fasters. Although the relationship between religion rituals and health, and particularly the effects of RIF on chronic diseases, has been an interesting issue for physicians nearly for 30 years, this issue was only tackled in a few studies presenting controversial findings ( Abdel-aziz & Ibraheem, 2008 ; Adeli et al, 2015 ; Askari et al, 2016 ; Aydin et al, 2014 ; Bener et al, 2006 ; Duncan, Husain, Raman, Cheah, & Ch’ng, 1990 ; Erkekol et al, 2006 ; Latiri et al, 2017 ; Moosavi, Kabir, Moghimi, Chehrei, & Rad, 2007 ; Nematy et al, 2015 ; Norouzy et al, 2013 ; Siddiqui, Sabir, & Subhan, 2005 ; Singha Roy & Bandyopadhyay, 2016 ; Soori, Mohaghegh, Hajain, & Moraadi, 2016 ; Subhan, Siddiqui, Khan, & Sabir, 2006 ). Moreover, the opinions of health-care professionals and scholarly societies, concerning the effects of RIF on health, are divided.…”

“…Several studies have observed the effects of RIF on body functions in patients with chronic conditions ( Adeli et al, 2015 ; Al-Dubeikil & Abdul-Lateef, 2003 ; Askari et al, 2016 ; Aydin et al, 2014 ; Babineaux et al, 2015 ; Bener et al, 2006 ; Bragazzi, 2015b ; M. Chamsi-Pasha & H. Chamsi-Pasha, 2016 ; Erkekol et al, 2006 ; Herrag et al, 2010 ; Nematy et al, 2015 ; Norouzy et al, 2013 ; Tas et al, 2014 ). However, studies examining the RIF effects on lung function data, are scarce, included only healthy adults or asthmatic adult patients and presented some discrepancies in their findings ( Abdel-aziz & Ibraheem, 2008 ; Adeli et al, 2015 ; Askari et al, 2016 ; Bener et al, 2006 ; Duncan et al, 1990 ; Latiri et al, 2017 ; Moosavi et al, 2007 ; Norouzy et al, 2013 ; Siddiqui et al, 2005 ; Singha Roy & Bandyopadhyay, 2016 ; Subhan et al, 2006 ; Soori et al, 2016 ). In view of the above considerations, the aim of the present pilot study was to assess the effects of RIF on spirometric data measured in male patients with a stable COPD.…”