Impact of Christian Orthodox Church dietary recommendations on metabolic syndrome risk factors: a scoping review

Abstract

Fasting has been a practice among followers of different religions for many years. Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting is a periodic vegetarian-type diet while seafood and snails are allowed on most fasting days. The present scoping review aimed to present available data regarding the benefits of COC fasting on metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. Databases were searched for available studies. Twenty publications, with a total of 1226 fasting participants, provided data on the effects on different variables of the MetS, including blood pressure, blood lipids and anthropometric measurements. Fasters’ diet is characterized by low saturated and trans fat intake, high complex carbohydrate and fiber consumption, due to foods allowed to consume. COC fasting has no deficiency in essential amino acids intake since seafood and snails allowed on fasting days. Fasters have healthier blood lipid profiles during and after COC fasting periods, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, body weight and body mass index are reduced after a fasting period. Due to restricted or forbidden intake of specific foods during the COC fasting periods, one might expect that fasters may have reduced intake of macro- and micro-nutrients, but as showed in the available literature there are no deficiencies. Future research on COC fasting is needed in areas not investigated at all, like MetS, before reaching definite conclusions.

RETRACTED: Dietary Patterns in Adults Following the Christian Orthodox Fasting Regime in Greece

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study that focuses on deriving dietary patterns in a COC fasting population in Greece. The COC fasting pattern is a dietary pattern followed for 18-200 days annually, focusing on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish and seafood, and is a key part of the well-known Mediterranean diet (7)(8)(9).…”

“…The Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting recommendations can be described as a unique dietary pattern that interchanges from a mixed to a vegetarian diet that includes fish and seafood and snails ( 7 ). This fasting dietary pattern characterizes the traditional diet of Crete as seen in the Seven Countries Study in 1960 ( 8 ).…”

“…This fasting dietary pattern characterizes the traditional diet of Crete as seen in the Seven Countries Study in 1960 ( 8 ). Individuals who follow the COC fasting recommendations abstain from meat, dairy products, and eggs for 180–200 days annually, whereas their diet is characterized by increased consumption of cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish, and seafood ( 7 ). This fasting pattern is characterized by the traditional Mediterranean diet that includes high consumption of legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, olive oil, moderate-to-high consumption of fish and sea foods, and moderate intake of poultry and limited consumption of red and processed meat ( 9 ).…”

RETRACTED: Associations Between Christian Orthodox Church Fasting and Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund’s Cancer Prevention Recommendations

“…During these periods, a plant-based diet is recommended, which ranges in strictness from pescatarian diets that include snails to vegan diets based on the above-mentioned religious calendar. Total abstinence from meat, dairy products, and eggs is compulsory, while the consumption of fish is strictly allowed to limited days during the fast [ 2 ].…”

“…In consideration of the fact that approximately 50–60% of the year is dedicated to COC fasting, the traditional Mediterranean diet of Greece strongly mimics those fasting dietary guidelines [ 2 ]. The Cretan Diet, as depicted in the Seven Countries Study, was itself a reflection of those religious guidelines as per the fact that 60% of the Seven Countries Study participants declared strict adherence to the COC fasting recommendations [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”