Effect of Acute Ramadan Fasting on Muscle Function and Buffering System of Male Athletes.

Mohamad Fashi,Luca Paolo Ardigò,Jorge Carlos-Vivas,Sajad Ahmadizad,Rafael Oliveira,Hadi Nobari,Jorge Pérez-Gómez

doi:10.3390/healthcare9040397

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute Ramadan fasting (RF) on the muscle function and buffering system. Twelve male athletes with 8 years of professional sports experience (age, 23.2 ± 1.3 years, body mass index: 24.2 ± 2.2 kg/m2) participated in this study. The subjects were tested twice, 3 weeks after the beginning of RF and 2 weeks after the end RF. Muscle function, buffering capacity, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during and after RF by using the Biodex isokinetic machine, blood gas analyzer, and RPE 6–20 Borg scale, respectively. Venous blood samples for pH and bicarbonate (HCO3−) were measured during and after RF by using the Biodex isokinetic machine, blood gas analyzer, and RPE 6–20 Borg scale, respectively. Venous blood samples for pH and bicarbonate (HCO3−) were taken immediately after 25 repetitions of isokinetic knee flexion and extension. Measures taken during isokinetic knee extension during RF were significantly lower than those after RF in extension peak torque (t = −4.72, p = 0.002), flexion peak torque (t = −3.80, p = 0.007), extension total work (t = −3.05, p = 0.019), extension average power (t = −4.20, p = 0.004), flexion average power (t = −3.37, p = 0.012), blood HCO3− (t = −2.02, p = 0.041), and RPE (Z = −1.69, p = 0.048). No influence of RF was found on the blood pH (t = 0.752, p = 0.476). RF has adverse effects on muscle function and buffering capacity in athletes. It seems that a low-carbohydrate substrate during RF impairs muscle performance and reduces the buffering capacity of the blood, leading to fatigue in athletes.

Highlights

Ramadan fasting (RF) is a religious custom in Islam, which requires healthy Muslims to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations between sunrise and sunset [1]
Shapiro–Wilk tests indicated a normal distribution of extension peak torque (p = 0.221), flexion peak torque (p = 0.426), extension total work (p = 0.586), flexion total work (p = 0.794), extension average power (p = 0.655), flexion average power (p = 0.489), angle of extension peak torque (p = 0.767), angle of flexion peak torque (p = 0.125), agonist/antagonist ratio (p = 0.534), HCO3− (p = 0.433), and pH, (p = 0.298)
When isokinetic knee measurements were compared, a significant increase was found for extension peak torque (t = −4.72, p = 0.002, 18%), flexion peak torque (t = −3.80, p = 0.007, 19%), extension total work (t = −3.05, p = 0.019, 11%), extension average power (t = −4.20, p = 0.004, 17%), and flexion average power (t = −3.37, p = 0.012, 30%) after-RF

Summary

Introduction

Ramadan fasting (RF) is a religious custom in Islam, which requires healthy Muslims to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations between sunrise and sunset [1]. Adult Muslims observe two main meals, the first meal in the early morning just before sunrise and the second meal at the end of the fasting day after sunset [2]. This eating pattern and length between two meals leads to some changes in sleep and lifestyle rhythms [3]. A significant decrease in the training load allows athletes to delay the fatigue induced by high-intensity training. Karli et al (2007) indicated that RF will not have adverse effects on body composition, anaerobic power or capacity, and lactate metabolism during and after high-intensity exercise in power athletes [12]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion