The Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Certain Biochemical Parameters in Normal Subjects and in Type II Diabetic Patients

Al-Hader, Abdel Fattah A.; Abu-Farsakh, N A; Khatib, Said Y.; Hasan, Zuheir

doi:10.5144/0256-4947.1994.139

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…17 Al-Hader et al showed a significant increase in TG without any significant change in T-C after fasting in healthy subjects. 20 Maisols et al showed a striking (>30%) nonpharmacologicimprovement in plasma HDL-C concentration with fasting and attributed it to eating one large meal a day (gorging). Plasma concentrations of TG, T-C, LDL-C and HDL-C did not change, but TC:HDL cholesterol and LDL:HDL cholesterol ratios did decrease significantly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Adults

et al. 2003

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Coronary heart disease (CHD) is primarily a disease of occidental culture, being more prevalent in populations that have adopted a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, who smoke and do not engage in sufficient physical activity. 1 The Islamic religion prescribes fasting during Ramadan for all healthy Muslims for ostensibly moral and spiritual reasons. It may, however, be viewed as an effective model for CHD risk profile modulation.The effect of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors is still a matter of debate. Energy intake decreases during Ramadan, 2-5 as do weight 2-5 and body fat percentage. 3,5 The effect of Ramadan fasting on serum lipid profile is not so clear, however. Numerous studies report improvements in serum lipoproteins, while a few report a deterioration in the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio during Ramadan. 4 There seems to be a reduction in the number of hospitalizations for acute coronary events during the month of Ramadan, 6 although this cannot be entirely or necessarily attributed to the physical restrictions, which the faithful endure during this month.This study was performed to evaluate alterations in CHD risk profile during the holy month of Ramadan. Materials and MethodsNinety-one healthy volunteers aged 20.8±3.1 years from two seminary schools in Rey, south of Tehran, took part in this study during Ramadan 2000 (1442 in the lunar calendar). The sample consisted of 50 men (age 19.9±1.8 years) and 41 women (age 21.9±3.9 years). All participants had the same diet and level of physical activity. Participants fasted from sunrise to sunset for at least 25 days during Ramadan. Dietary intake was recorded using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire on days zero and 14 of fasting. None of the students smoked or was taking any medication at the time of the study.Blood samples were collected twice: first, one week before Ramadan after a 12-hour overnight fast (baseline) and then on the 28 th day of Ramadan, just before sunset. Anthropometric measures were performed at the same time as blood sampling.Biochemical measurements took place at the laboratory of the Endocrine and Metabolism Research Centre, affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences.Blood samples were centrifuged and the supernatant plasma stored at -25°C. All blood samples were analyzed in a single batch to avoid day-to-day laboratory variation. Glucose, total cholesterol (T-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured by auto-analyser (Hitachi 911, Böhringer Mannheim, Germany) with standard reagents supplied by the company. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was measured enzymatically from the supernatant obtained after precipitation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (very low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] and LDL) by dextran sulphate and Mg ++ (HDL-Cholesterol kit, Sigma Diagnostics, USA). The intra-assay and inter-assay variation coefficients were less than 1%. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels were then calculated using the Friedwald formula (all participants had TG values <400 mg/dl)....

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Adults

et al. 2003

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“…[23][24][25][26] Most patients show no change in their glucose control. In some patients, serum glucose concentration may fall or rise, which may be due to the amount or type of food consumed, changes in body weight and exercise habits, regularity of taking medications, or engorging after the fast is broken.…”

Section: Diabetesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The amount of fructosamine, insulin and C-peptide has been reported to have no significant change before and during Ramadan fasting. 23,27,28 Serum creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, protein, albumin, alanine amino-transferase, and aspartate amino-transferase values do not show significant changes during the fasting period. 27,30 The amount of energy (calorie) intake have been reported in some of the literature, indicating a decrease in energy intake.…”

Section: Diabetesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research in Islamic Fasting and Health

Azizi

2002

Ann Saudi Med

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Fasting during Ramadan is a religious duty for all healthy adult Muslims. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Many of the world's great religions recommend a period of fasting or abstinence. The Islamic fast during the month of Ramadan during which a whole month is dedicated to fasting is particular to Islam, and is strictly observed by millions of Muslims worldwide. Since more than a billion people worldwide follow Islam, it is assumed that hundreds of millions of people observe the Ramadan fasting each year. The experience of fasting teaches Muslims self-discipline and self-restraint, and reminds them of the feelings of the impoverished. Fasting is not obligatory for children. Menstruating women as well as sick and travelling people are excused, and pregnant and lactating women are permitted to postpone the fasting during Ramadan, however, they should fast during another month of the year, when they have no reason for exemption. 1,2 During Ramadan, the majority of Muslims have two good-sized meals; one immediately after sunset and the other just before dawn. They are allowed to eat and drink between sunset and dawn but not after dawn. Since the Islamic calendar derives from a lunar cycle, the Islamic year contains 354 days. Therefore, the Ramadan month occurs 11 days earlier every year, and may occur in any of the four seasons, making the length of fasting hours variable from 11 to 18 hours in tropical countries. The month of Ramadan is either 29 or 30 days.From the physiological standpoint, Islamic fasting provides a unique model of fasting. It is distinct from regular voluntary or experimental fasting by the fact that the observant of the fast does not drink during fasting hours. In addition, Ramadan fasting is not just disciplining the body to restrain from eating and drinking. The eyes, ears, tongue, and indeed the whole body, are equally obligated to be restrained. Therefore, one may assume that physiological changes occurring during Islamic fasting would be different from those noted during an experimental fast. This review discusses the findings of research conducted on various aspects of Ramadan fasting and its impact on some disease processes. A comparison with the effects of experimental fasting is attempted whenever possible. The author conducted a Medline search, reviewed local journals in some of the Islamic countries, as well as some research findings from two international congresses on health and Ramadan. 3,4 Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Metabolism Carbohydrate MetabolismThe effects of experimental short-term fasting on carbohydrate metabolism have been reviewed extensively. 5,6The post-absorptive period of fasting is defined as 8 to 16 hours after eating, a period of very early adaptation to starvation. The primary metabolic priority of this period is the provision of adequate glucose for the cells of the brain, red blood cells, peripheral nerves and renal medulla. A slight decrease in serum glucose to around 3.3-3.9 mmol/L (60-70 mg/dL) occurs a few hours after fasting i...

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“…More studies show no change or a slight decrease in concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides [19][20][21] . Increase in total cholesterol levels during Ramadan seldom occurs [22] .As in healthy persons [4,6] .Few studies have reported increases in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in diabetics during Ramadan [23,24] . One report indicates an increase in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol [18] .Few studies have shown the effect of Ramadan fasting Serum creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, protein, albumin, alanine amino-transferase; aspirate amino-transferase values do not show significant changes during the fasting period [19,21,25] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many physiological and psychological changes take place during Ramadan, most probably due to the changes in eating patterns, eating frequency and sleep patterns [4] . Some studies in the eastern Mediterranean area have indicated improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol during Ramadan fasting [5,6] . Few studies have shown the effect of Ramadan fasting on serum glucose [7][8][9][10][11] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study the Effects of Ramadan Fasting on the Serum Glucose and Lipid Profile among Healthy Jordanian Students

Mansi¹

2007

American J. of Applied Sciences

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Abstract:Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and Muslims fast during this month. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on plasma lipids profile and serum glucose among healthy Jordanian students. Ramadan fasting entails major changes in sleep pattern, physical activity and eating habits, which may cause changes in metabolism both in health and disease. This cohort study was performed during Ramadan in October 2006 (Islamic year 1427). The subjects were 70 healthy Jordanian students (male and female) from three Jordanian universities who fasted during Ramadan. Their mean age was 21 ±1.6 years. We evaluated some anthropometric parameters as body weight (Kg), pulse rate (per minute) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg). All parameters at 4 week of Ramadan were significantly lower than pre-Ramadan values, 2 weeks after Ramadan fasting, body weight and other parameters had a trend to recoup to pre-Ramadan status; however, they were still lower than the pre-Ramadan values. We evaluated blood glucose, triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and Triglycerides at 1 day before, at week 1, 2, 4 of the Ramadan month and after tow weeks after the end of Ramadan. It was found that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased significantly during Ramadan, which indicated positive association with pulse rate and fat intake and negative association with systolic blood pressure and weight. . The LDLc was significantly reduced at the end of fasting. A reduction in the average TC value was observed at the end of fasting but the difference was not statistically and there no significant rise in the TG and blood sugar values at the end of fasting. This study indicated that Ramadan fasting led to a decrease weight, LDLc significantly, and significant not statistically reduction in the average TC value, and significantly increasing in HDLc was noted during Ramadan. There was a non-significant rise in the TG, and blood sugar value at the end of fasting. It seems that the effect of Ramadan fasting on serum lipid levels may be closely related to the nutritional diet or biochemical response to starvation.

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The Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Certain Biochemical Parameters in Normal Subjects and in Type II Diabetic Patients

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Adults

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Adults

Research in Islamic Fasting and Health

Study the Effects of Ramadan Fasting on the Serum Glucose and Lipid Profile among Healthy Jordanian Students

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