Abstract
Purpose: Our study aimed to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on cognitive and physiological function in a group of healthy Muslim subjects. Methods: We measured demographic, physiological (blood pressure), and cognitive function including attention switching task (AST) and delayed matching to sample (DMS) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) at two periods of the study (before Ramadan, at the second week in Ramadan) in 15 subjects. Results: During fasting, performance on the AST test improved significantly for switching cost (p = 0.030) and for congruent condition of AST task (p = 0.043), for diastolic pressure decreased (p = 0.069) in healthy subjects. There was no significant effect for incongruent condition and number of errors and percent to complete task for DMS test and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: The results suggest that Ramadan fasting is associated with significant changes in cognition, and causes a drop in diastolic blood pressure in healthy subject.
Highlights
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is spent by adult Muslims fasting from all over the world
delayed matching to sample (DMS) task was analyzed for the numbers of correct patterns selected, and statistical analysis measuring the probability of an error after a correct or incorrect response
Results from Fifteen adult healthy volunteers were analyzed in this investigation (Table 1)
Summary
The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is spent by adult Muslims fasting from all over the world. (2016) Fasting in Ramadan Affects Cognitive and Physiological Function in Normal Subjects (Pilot Study). In summer months, it may last more than 16 hours a day. Fasting in Ramadan may significantly affect daytime hydration, blood glucose and body temperature [6]-[8], circadian rhythms [9] [10], physiological [11], metabolic and endocrine functions [6] [8], serum levels of cholesterol, lipids [6]-[9]. Our study was designed to examine the effect of Ramadan fasting in a group of healthy adult Muslim subjects on cognitive function and on blood pressure
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