Oyster mushroom ameliorates liver function during ramadan fast reflected by reducing the serum level of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase of male volunteers

Abstract

During the holy Arabic month Ramadan, the quality of food and the patterns of eating and drinking are changed as well as stopped for at least 10 to 16 h on the basis of lunar calendar. The effects of exercise and fasting solely or combined on metabolic and hematologic responses are well established. The purpose of the present study was to find out the effects of Ramadan fasting on hepatic dysfunction marker enzymes such as Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) which are considered as common liver function tests (LFTs) of adult human and corresponding change with the supplementation of oyster mushroom at ifter. The feeding of semi cooked fresh oyster mushroom at the iftar table during Ramadan fasting decreased the serum levels of ALT (p < 0.001) and AST (< 0.05) of male subjects indicating oyster mushroom is able to ameliorates liver functions. Key words: Pleurotus ostreatus, ALT, AST, Ramadan, Iftar and Male.