The Effect of Fasting in Ramadan on Hemostatic Variables

Abstract

Hemostatic measurements were performed in 33 volunteers in the morning and afternoon in one day during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and were then repeated on an ordinary nonfasting day. There were no significant diurnal fluctuations in plasmatic hemostatic parameters either in Ramadan or on a nonfasting day. There was no difference in the morning and afternoon platelet aggregation responses between Ramadan and the nonfasting period. However, aggregation responses to ADP (2 μM/L), adrenaline, collagen, and arachidonic acid were diminished during Ramadan as compared to the nonfasting day. It is concluded that the stress encountered during the Ramadan fast, as depicted in the platelet aggregation responses, is less than that encountered on an ordinary nonfasting day.MT Kordy, AGMA Gader, The Effect of Fasting in Ramadan on Hemostatic Variables. 1991; 11(1): 23-27 The fasting month of Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this time when all Muslims are obliged to observe a dawn to sunset fast, but may consume any food and drink from sunset to dawn. Previous studies on the physiological responses to Ramadan fasting have documented biochemical [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], hematological [3,6,8], and hormonal [4] changes, but no studies have been done to investigate the responses of the hemostatic system. The total fast during an ordinary working day is stressful, and it is well established that a wide variety of stressful stimuli produce measurable effects on platelet function, coagulation, and fibrinolysis [9].We report the results of measurements of a variety of hemostatic variables, including platelet aggregation, in healthy volunteers observing the Ramadan fast. The same measurements were repeated in an ordinary working day. As far as we know, no similar study has been done before. Material and MethodsA total of 33 volunteers (30 males, 3 females) were studied (mean age, 32 ± 4.98 yr SD; mean weight, 69.9 ± 7.98 kg SD). They were members of the academic, technical, or clinical staff, or students at the College of Medicine, as well as members of the general public. Only three subjects smoked an average of less than 10 cigarettes per day; the rest were nonsmokers.Ramadan blood samples were obtained at 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., five and ten hours after the last intake of food or drink during a working day inthe third week of Ramadan (9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. are the start and end of the working day during Ramadan). The same subjects were studied again during a nonfasting day (working hours, 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.), and blood samples were drawn at the same time of day as during the fasting period. The 7:30 A.M. sample was taken after the subject had ingested a cup of tea and biscuits but no fatty food; the 4:30 P.M. samples were collected approximately 2 to 3 hours after an ordinary lunch had been eaten. Blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein with the minimum of venous stasis and added to sodium citrate (0.11 M) in a vacutainer plastic tube (Sarstedt, West Germany) to ...

Research in Islamic Fasting and Health

“…61 The stress encountered during this fasting period, as depicted in the platelet aggregation responses, is less than that encountered on an ordinary nonfasting day. 62 Headaches were reported by 41% of the 91 persons who had fasted, as compared to 8% of those who did not fast. The headache was of the tension type in 78% of the cases.…”

Physiological and Chronobiological Changes during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting

“…Moreover, the platelet count [50] and responses to different aggregation agents decreased, leading to an increase in bleeding and coagulation time [28,55,56] . Antithrombin III also decreased in the morning and in the afternoon [56] . The circadian distribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was altered by Ramadan fasting with an increase at 9: 00 h [55] .…”

Islamic Fasting or the Right Life Style: Investigating the Biochemical Parameters of the Body Organs

“…Regarding the effect of fasting on eyes, no change will occur in the eye sight and the pressure inside of the eyes, so some physicians don't allow the patients who have glaucoma, even with no change in consumed drugs, to fast (24). Regarding the effect of fasting on psych, the stress in Ramadan is low compared to other days (25). Even in a research, the suicide reduction is reported (26).…”

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