Ramadan intermittent fasting is associated with ameliorated inflammatory markers and improved plasma sphingolipids/ceramides in subjects with obesity: lipidomics analysis

Abstract

Intermittent fasting (IF) is associated with enormous metabolic alterations that underpin its diverse health effects. Changes in lipid metabolism, particularly ceramides, and other sphingolipids, are among the most notable of these alterations. This study investigated the lipidomic alterations associated with 29–30 days of Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting (RIF) in metabolically healthy overweight and obese subjects. A prospective cohort of 57 overweight and obese adults (70% males, 38.4 ± 11.2 years), with an age range of 18–58 years was observed prior to and at the conclusion of Ramadan. At both time points, anthropometric, biochemical (lipid profile, glycemic, and inflammatory markers), and dietary intake measurements were taken. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, a lipidomic analysis of ceramides and other sphingolipids was conducted. Using paired sample t-tests, pre- and post-Ramadan anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary values were compared. RIF was associated with improved levels of lipid profile compartments and inflammatory markers. In addition, RIF was associated with a decrease in plasma sphingosine and sphinganine, which was accompanied by a decrease in sphingosine 1-phosphate and sphinganine 1-phosphate. In addition, RIF was associated with decreased C17, C22, and C24 sphingomyelin, but not C14, C16, C18, C20, and C24:1 sphingomyelin, as well as C20, C22, C24, and C24:1 dihydrosphingomyelin, but not C16 and C18 dihydrosphingomyelin. This study demonstrates that RIF is associated with improvements in plasma sphingosine, sphinganine sphingomyelin, and dihydrosphingomyelin lipid species, as well as improved lipid profile and inflammatory markers, which may confer short-term protection against cardiometabolic problems in patients with overweight/obesity.

The dietary changes during Ramadan and their impact on anthropometry, blood pressure, and metabolic profile

“…Although some former studies ( 29 , 30 ) had assessed the changes in metabolites and lipids after RIF, the direct comparison of observed metabolic changes in LORANS to previous studies was not possible due to the use of different metabolic profiling methods.…”

Effect of calorie restriction and intermittent fasting on glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, inflammatory, and hormonal markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

“…This fasting pattern is followed consistently for 29-30 days. Multiple studies, including original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, have provided evidence that RIF is linked to decreased BW, body fat mass especially visceral fat, serum lipids, and other cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, with slight improvements in glucometabolic regulation and liver function tests (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Most, if not all, of these aforementioned factors, improved upon RIF have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of PCOS in variable degrees and dimensions (20)(21)(22).…”

Comment on “Ramadan fasting following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective online survey cohort study in Egypt”

“…In the Islamic tradition, adult Muslims are mandated to engage in intermittent fasting during Ramadan, which falls on the ninth month of the lunar calendar. This pivotal religious practice is observed by an excess of 1.5 billion followers worldwide [ 2 ]. Fasting during Ramadan includes complete abstinence, sometimes for more than 12 hours, and there may be risks for patients with bariatric-metabolic surgery (BMS).…”