Maternal Ramadan Fasting and Neonatal Health

Abstract

This retrospective cohort study sought to determine the effects of maternal Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight as an important aspect of fetal health. It was carried out among healthy women who were admitted for their neonate delivery at two medical centers in Tehran from January to September 2000. Neonates of 284 mothers with a history of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy were compared with neonates of 255 mothers who did not have a history of fasting during their pregnancies. On univariate analysis, neonatal birth weight of the fasted group was 100 g more than those of the nonfasted group (p ¼ 0.009). However, body mass index (BMI) of the fasted mothers was greater than that of the nonfasted mothers. When controlling for maternal BMI on neonatal birth weight, multiple linear regression models showed that neonates of fasted women were 71 g heavier than those of the nonfasted group, which was not statistically significant (p ¼ 0.1). We conclude that maternal fasting during Ramadan did not have a significant effect on the neonatal birth weight. Other health effects that we did not observe could have occurred.

Experiences and outcomes of maternal Ramadan fasting during pregnancy: results from a sub-cohort of the Born in Bradford birth cohort study

“…Our results, showing that pregnant women who are fasting are heavier and have a higher parity, have also been reported in studies conducted in Iran and Singapore respectively [15, 16]. The relationships we observed between higher parity and lower maternal age being related to fasting were however not observed in another Iranian maternal cohort [17].…”

Islamic Fasting and Health

“…A significant fall in glucose, insulin, lactate and carnitine and a rise in triglycerides and hydroxybutyrate was reported at the end of the fasting day in pregnant women [116] . In another reports the LDL/HDL ratio was decreased and the outcome of pregnancy was comparable to those who did not fast [117,118] . The outcome of pregnancy in Gambian women who fasted during Ramadan was unsatisfactory; however, no control group was evaluated [119] .…”

Health is a spiritual thing: perspectives of health care professionals and female Somali and Bangladeshi women on the health impacts of fasting during Ramadan

“…A MEDLINE search of articles containing the word 'Ramadan' or a combination of 'fasting' plus either 'Muslim' or 'Islam' found that researchers have examined the effect of fasting during Ramadan on diabetes (Salti et al 2004, Sari et al 2004, breast milk composition (Rakicioglu et al 2006, Rashid 2007, cholesterol levels (Adlouni et al 1998, Qujeq et al 2002, seizure activity (Gomceli et al 2008), incidence of acute cardiac events (Al suwaidi et al 2004a), incidence of hospitalisation for congestive heart failure (Al Suwaidi et al 2004b), frequency of emergency department visits (Topacoglu et al 2005) and neonatal birth weight (Kavehmanesh and Abolghasemi 2004). Several studies have noted inadequate hydration (Schmahl andMetzler 1991, Leiper andMolla 2003); variations in nutritional intake (Gharbi et al 2003, Lamine et al 2006, Reilly and Waterhouse 2007; challenges with medication, administration and adherence (Aadil et al 2004, Habib et al 2008; and inadequacy of sleep (Roky et al 2003) during Ramadan.…”