Effects of Ramadan fasting on glucose homeostasis and adiponectin levels in healthy adult males

Abstract

BackgroundAdiponectin is a hormone secreted by adipocytes during the fasting phase of the fast-fed cycle. Ramadan fasting involves prolonged fasting for up to twelve hours and thus could lead to increased secretion of adiponectin by adipocytes. However, studies on the role of adiponectin on glucose and body weight homeostasis during Ramadan fasting is still a matter of controversy. Thus the specific aim of this study was to assess the effect of fasting during Ramadan on the adiponectin levels, body weight and glucose homeostasis in healthy male Malaysian subjects.MethodsTwenty healthy male (19–23 years) Muslim subjects were followed up during the fasting month of Ramadan. Anthropometry and blood samples were taken one week before and during the fourth week of fasting. Plasma glucose, insulin and adiponectin were estimated and insulin sensitivity indices were estimated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment.ResultsSubjects experienced a significant decrease in body weight (2.4 %, p < 0.001) and body mass index (5.5 %, p < 0.01). There was also a significant decrease of 12.3 %, 52.8 % and 45.6 % of plasma glucose, insulin and adiponectin respectively (p < 0.01). The drop in adiponectin was positively correlated with the decrease in body weight (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). There was also a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in insulin resistance (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThese results indicate that Ramadan fasting in young healthy individuals has a positive impact on the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. It also shows that adiponectin levels dropped along with significant loss in weight. We feel caloric restriction during the Ramadan fasting is in itself sufficient to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on glucose level, lipid profile, HbA1c and uric acid among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan

“…Mean weight was reduced slightly in Ramadan in this study. A majority of studies showed a significant decrease in mean weight in Ramadan (16,18,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) but this was recouped in Shawwal (21,23). Shruthi et al indicated that the decrease in weight during Ramadan could be due to a reduction in fluid intake and a decline in glycogen-bound water stores (24).…”

“…However, other studies have been conducted on non-diabetes patients and healthy subjects (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Some studies focused on the effects of Ramadan fasting on young university students among Arab and Iranian students (1,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). The eating habits and other physical activities of the Pakistani population during Ramadan may differ compared with the Muslim populations of Arab and other countries, therefore, there is a possibility that the effect of Ramadan fasting could be different for Pakistani university students.…”

Intermittent Fasting for Twelve Weeks Leads to Increases in Fat Mass and Hyperinsulinemia in Young Female Wistar Rats

“…Nutrients 2020, 12, 1029; doi:10.3390/nu12041029 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate [16][17][18][19][20]; a reduction in inflammation; and protection against neurodegeneration [17][18][19][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

Fasting may be an alternative treatment method recommended by physicians

“…Additionally, it is claimed that both IF and Ramadan fasting to reduce oxidative damage and inflammation, optimize energy metabolism, and boost cellular protection (8,9). For instance, the pattern of insulin resistance-mediating adipocytokines suggests potentially beneficial metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting (10). Fasting was shown to reduce body weight and have a positive effect on lipid profile and glucose levels (11).…”