Ramadan Fasting in Health and Disease

Abstract

Ramadan fasting, an annual alternate day event, is characterized by repeated cycles of fasting and refeeding (fast and feast) periods generally separated by a 12 h interval. During the fast period, the subject refrains from eating, drinking, medicating, and smoking, while during the feast period at breaking of fast, they usually consume 2–3 meals instead of the customary 4–5 meals. Ramadan fasting is safe, with no undesirable health effects in healthy subjects and in those with well-controlled hypertension and diabetes type 2, stable cardiovascular disease, and renal recipient transplants with stable allograft function. There is no evidence of increased risk of stroke, acute coronary events, or deterioration in renal function. In contrast, in chronic kidney disease patients, fasting may be associated with further deterioration in renal function and adverse health manifestations. Patients observing fast during the month of Ramadan should strictly follow the therapeutic regimen under the supervision of their health-care providers.