Changes in blood urea and glucose and their association with energy-containing nutrients in men on hypocaloric diets during Ramadan fasting

Abstract

In Islamic fasting, participants abstain from food and water between dawn and sunset. This study was conducted to determine the changes in blood urea and glucose and their associations with energy-containing nutrients in men during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Sixteen healthy male college students consumed a high-carbohydrate diet for 2 wk followed by a high-fat diet for the next 2 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken on day 0 (base line), 14, and 28, and analyzed for urea and glucose. At the end of the fasting period the blood urea level increased significantly (p less than 0.05) and the glucose level decreased. At day 14, blood urea was negatively correlated to sucrose intake (p less than 0.01) and at day 28, the relationship between blood glucose and energy intake was negative (p less than 0.02). The findings suggest possible use of a Ramadan fasting model for studies related to energy metabolism and regulation of energy intake.