Abstract
AimsWe assessed the effect of fasting during Ramadan on blood pressure (BP), body weight, plasma lipid, and lipoprotein variables among healthy normal individuals.Methods102 (68% male) multi-ethnic volunteers; mean age ± SD (38.7±10.5 years) were randomly recruited in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to be investigated before Ramadan, one day after the end of Ramadan, and four weeks after Ramadan. Anthropometric, demographic, fasting plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by standard methods, and Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using Friedewald’s formula.Results65 subjects completed the study. We found significant and beneficial changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight, waist circumference (WC), TG, HDL-C and LDL-C, at the end of Ramadan, but not in TC. Further, there was a progressive and significant increase and decrease in HDL-C and LDL-C levels, respectively, four weeks after Ramadan.ConclusionsWe observed significant improvements in HDL-C, and LDL-C levels even after four weeks post Ramadan. Ramadan-like fasting may be considered for more effective lipid and lipoprotein control.
Highlights
Fasting in the month of Ramadan, the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar, is a religious obligation for all adult Muslims, ordained, in part, to teach self-restraint and body purification [1]
Fasting individuals are required to abstain from eating, drinking, and any form of intimate behaviour for approximately 12 hours depending on the geographical location [2]. Such religious obligations may provide an opportunity to a reduced frequency and quantity of food-intake, both of which may lead to plausible health benefits including weight loss, and favourable metabolic changes [3,4]
Farshidfar et al reported a significant increase in high density lipoprotein - cholesterol (HDL-C) and a decrease in low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C) at day 28 of Ramadan [11]
Summary
Fasting in the month of Ramadan, the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar, is a religious obligation for all adult Muslims, ordained, in part, to teach self-restraint and body purification [1]. Fasting individuals are required to abstain from eating, drinking, and any form of intimate behaviour for approximately 12 hours (from dawn to sunset) depending on the geographical location [2] Such religious obligations may provide an opportunity to a reduced frequency and quantity of food-intake, both of which may lead to plausible health benefits including weight loss, and favourable metabolic changes [3,4]. Such weight loss during Ramadan may not be sustained [5]. Studies among patients with type II diabetes mellitus reported decreased total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and LDL-C as well as increased HDL-C levels after fasting in Ramadan [12]
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