Effects Of Ramadan Research Articles

To Learn the Effects of Ramadan- Intermittent Fasting (RIF) and Time of Day on Physical Parameters of Taekwondo Athletes by Coaches

To Learn the Effects of Ramadan- Intermittent Fasting (RIF) and Time of Day on Physical Parameters of Taekwondo Athletes by Coaches

Immediate effects of Ramadan on objective time asleep in male youth football players from the Middle East: an interrupted time-series study

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the abrupt effects of Ramadan onset on actigraphy-based time asleep in male youth Muslim football players. Methods We adopted a quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series research design and tracked objective time asleep over a minimum of 12 consecutive nights in the two weeks prior to and immediately after Ramadan onset, respectively. Twenty-two, male academy student-athletes (chronological age range: 12.6 to 16.2 years) participated in the study (464 individual observations). Segmented generalized mixed-effects modelling estimated the effects of Ramadan onset on time asleep during the first period of night sleep only. Results Ramadan onset led to an immediate mean reduction of 89 min (95% confidence interval [CI], 54 to 123 min) in time asleep during the first period of night sleep compared to pre-Ramadan sleep patterns. Model-adjusted estimated marginal means for time asleep were ~ 5.7 h (95%CI, 5.1 to 6.2 h) before and ~ 4.2 h (95%CI, 3.6 to 4.7 h) after Ramadan onset. Night sleep interruptions resulting in two or more fragmented periods accounted for 8% (95%CI, 2 to 21%) to 19% (95%, 11 to 29%) of sleep observations before and after Ramadan onset, respectively. Conclusions The onset of Ramadan determined an abrupt reduction in time asleep of ~ 1 h 30 min in the first period of a night cycle and contributed to additional problems of heterogeneous sleep fragmentation that can impact optimal school learning and youth athlete performance development processes.

Investigation of the effects of Ramadan and intermittent fasting on material and spiritual health

One of the most important problems for humanity is maintaining health. It is much easier and more cost-effective to protect it than to fix it after it has deteriorated. Modern medicine has also caught up with this point in recent years and has started to give more importance to preventive medicine practices, as Islam has been emphasizing for 1400 years. For this reason, preventive medicine practices such as intermittent fasting and eating less, which are recommended both in Islam and in scientific studies, are very important in terms of protecting health, reducing health expenditures and the workload of hospitals. In this study, we have compared the Qur'an and hadiths, which are the main sources of Islam, with the current medical literature datas. We have shown that they both point to the same points and make recommendations in the same parallel, such as intermittent fasting. With this study, which is the first and original in this respect, we aimed to contribute to the protection and improvement of both individual and social health and to reduce health expenditures and the workload of hospitals.

Effects of Ramadan on cognitive functions in young boys.

Fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset, potentially influencing cognitive functions essential for the intellectual development of the youth. Therefore, understanding the effects of fasting on these functions in children/adolescents provides valuable perspectives to enhance education and promote mental well-being. However, studies on children/adolescents in this context are still limited. To evaluate the impact of Ramadan fasting on cognitive functions, including information processing speed, inhibition, decision-making, and auditory attention processes among children and adolescents aged 11 to 15 years. This study was conducted with 24 healthy children/adolescents (aged 12.84 ± 0.69 years). The experimental protocol consisted of two sessions: Before-Ramadan (BR) and at the beginning of the second week of Ramadan (R2). At each session, the boys were randomly tested on simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), negative priming reaction time (NPRT), and auditory discrimination (P300). The tests were administered and scored by the same person in the different sessions. The study found that Ramadan fasting did not have an effect on various reaction times or on electro-physiological data, including P300 amplitude and latency. The current study, conducted with healthy children/adolescents, indicates that Ramadan fasting had no impact on various reaction times (SRT, CRT, NPRT), suggesting the preservation of information processing speed and decision-making, even in the face of increased task complexity. This is evident, on the one hand, through the maintenance of the ability to react to unexpected events, and, on the other hand, through the mastery of resistance to automatism, thus reflecting the preservation of inhibitory function (NPRT). Regarding P300 data, the absence of changes in latencies and amplitudes suggests that Ramadan fasting did not alter either the evaluation time of auditory stimuli or auditory attention processes.

Ramadan during pregnancy and offspring health over the life course: A systematic review

Abstract Background The Muslim population in Europe is increasing, with by now more than 5% of the population being Muslim. During pregnancy, many Muslim women choose to adhere to the Ramadan fast. Research on health effects of Ramadan during pregnancy on the offspring has been conducted through two separate literature strands. One compares offspring of women who chose vs didn't choose to fast and focuses on birth outcomes. The other strand uses an ITT-approach, classifying Muslims as potentially vs certainly not exposed based on their birthdates relative to Ramadan. The ITT-studies’ design allows to also study later-life health. This review combines both strands and evaluates their ability to identify causal effects between Ramadan during pregnancy and offspring health. Methods A systematic literature search using PubMed, EconLit and Web of Science plus a Google Scholar search yielded 35 eligible studies. Data were extracted and quality assessed using a checklist. Results Non-ITT studies often struggle to adequately address bias from self-selection in treatment, with a high risk of confounding and unknown direction of bias. ITT studies, while producing results biased toward zero, are likely to reveal causality and relied on large datasets, leading to high statistical power. Studies meeting the quality threshold find limited evidence of effects on birth outcomes, such as birthweight, but show increased child mortality rates and worse adult health outcomes along several dimensions. These effects tend to increase in magnitude with age, which is congruent with fetal programming theory. Conclusions Medical advisories, guidelines and previous literature reviews mostly focused on non-ITT studies that primarily examined birth outcomes. However, health effects mostly show up at later ages. Consequently, adverse long-run effects are often overlooked, and pregnant Muslims remain not fully informed of potential health impacts on their offspring of their Ramadan fasting decisions. Key messages • Many pregnant Muslims decide to fast during Ramadan. Rigorous quality checking of the research on offspring health effects is needed to provide informative evidence for the growing Muslim population. • Adverse health effects of Ramadan during pregnancy mostly become visible only years after birth. Medical advisories tend to focus on evidence on birth effects, overlooking long-term adverse effects.

Effects of Ramadan and Non-ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Gut Microbiome.

BackgroundIn recent years, intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity in the health and wellness in the world. There are numerous types of IF, all of which involve fasting periods that last longer than an overnight fast and involve limited meal time-windows, with or without calorie restriction. The objective of this review is to summarize the current evidence for the effects of Ramadan and non-Ramadan IF on gut microbiome.MethodsWe explored PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar according to the PRISMA criteria (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). Animal and human studies were screened and reviewed separately by two researchers.ResultsTwenty-eight studies were selected after screening. Some of the studies were performed on animal models and some on humans. The results of these studies indicate a significant shift in the gut microbiota, especially an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria following fasting diets. The results of some studies also showed an increase in the bacterial diversity, decrease inflammation and increased production of some metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in individuals or samples under fasting diets. Moreover, Ramadan fasting, as a kind of IF, improves health parameters through positive effects on some bacterial strains such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroide. However, some studies have reported adverse effects of fasting diets on the structure of the microbiome.ConclusionIn general, most studies have seen favorable results following adherence from the fasting diets on the intestinal microbiome. However, because more studies have been done on animal models, more human studies are needed to prove the results.

Effects of Fasting Ramadan on Glycemic Control and Lipid Profile in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

This study was designed to investigate the effects of fasting the month of Ramadan on the blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), and lipid profile among diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: An observational Longitudinal study was conducted on diabetic patients inout patients department in the National Diabetic & Endocrine Center located in Tripoli Libya from May 2017 to July 2017 (i.e. Ramadan 1437). During this time, Ramdan fasts were approximately 16 hours per day. Data on socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, educational level, and occupation), blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were collected. The data was obtained using a face-to-face interview, the measurement were using a structured questionnaire, and, blood samples were collected for testing glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Lipid profile, urea, and Creatinine (using the Integra 400 Pulse). Result: This study included 46 type 2 diabetic participants (27 men and 19 women). The mean participant age was 53.10±13.33 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 32.49±6.19 kg/m2. 26 participants were treated with insulin. The mean number of days fasted was 28.80±2.45 days. Among both male and female participants, the average levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, low density and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were all significantly lower during Ramadan as compared with before Ramadan (p<0.05).Conclusion: The results revealed that fasting the month of Ramadan has a significant impact on the decrease in blood sugar, HbAlc level, lipid profile, BMI, and blood pressure among diabetic participants. Fasting Ramadan may prove to be beneficial to the health of type 2 diabetic patients.

To fast or not to fast

IntroductionRamadan happens in the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. The cycle of the sun marks the beginning and the end of fasting. Its duration varies depending on the season: approximately 18 h in the summer to approximately 12 h during winter. The obligation to eat only during the night leads to an important change in the circadian rhythm There are certain psychiatric illnesses wherein people are very sensitive to this circadian disruption, bipolar disorder in particular. We know that a regulated circadian rhythm with adequate sleep are essential for symptom regulation and mood stability, with the risk of relapse or worsening symptoms. Additionally, some medications have to be maintained at a specific therapeutic index, namely lithium, a common mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.ObjectivesTo review the impact of Ramadan on patients with bipolar disorderMethodsPubmed and Google Scholar search using the keywords Bipolar disorder, Ramadan, circadian rhythm, fasting, sleep deprivationResultsAll physiologic parameters are influenced by the circadian rhythm, which is influenced in its turn by the food rhythm. Studies on the effects of Ramadan on mood and mental health in the general population provide contradicting evidence. The inability to take medications during the day, dehydration and other somatic changes that necessitate dosing modification may lead to psychiatric symptom exacerbation.ConclusionsPatients with bipolar disorder might be particularly sensitive to circadian rhythm disturbances and could require increased monitoring of their symptoms during this month.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Exploring the experiences and perceptions of haemodialysis patients observing Ramadan fasting: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe festival of Ramadan is a month of spiritual reflection for Muslims worldwide. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Although exempted from fasting, many patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (HD) opt to participate in this religious practice. Many studies have explored the effects of Ramadan on health outcomes, however, the exploration from patients’ own point of view pertaining to this religious practice is lacking. Thus, we aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of Muslim HD patients observing Ramadan fasting from three HD centres in Klang Valley, Malaysia.MethodAn exploratory phenomenology qualitative study was conducted whereby subjects were purposively selected based on previous experience in observing Ramadan fasting. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted, and study data were analyzed thematically and iteratively coded using a constant comparison method.ResultsFour major themes emerged from the data, namely: (i) “fasting experiences”, (ii) “perceived side effects of fasting”, (iii) “health-seeking behavior” and, (iv) “education and awareness needs”. Patients expressed the significance of Ramadan fasting as well as the perceived impact of fasting on their health. Additionally, there is lack of health-seeking behaviour observed among patients thus, raising needs for awareness and education related to Ramadan fasting.ConclusionsFindings of this study shed light on patients’ experiences and perceptions regarding Ramadan fasting which warrants the needs for an effective communication between patients and health care practitioners through a structured-Ramadan specific education program.

Effects of Motor Mental Imagery Training on Tennis Service Performance during the Ramadan Fasting: a Randomized, Controlled Trial.

The objective of the present study is to analyze the effects of motor mental imagery training on tennis service performance among tennis athletes who fast during Ramadan. Participants were 38 young male tennis players, randomly divided into two groups: Imaging Training (IMG, n = 18) and control group (CG, n = 20). The CG has watched videos on the history of the Olympic Games, while IMG has followed a training program in motor imagery. The performance of the tennis service was obtained by the product between accuracy and speed of typing (accuracy × average speed of all shots (km/h)). The effect of group/time interaction (p < 0.01) was identified for all performance indicators (accuracy, running speed and performance (speed × precision)), with improvement only in IMG (p = 0.01). The results showed that motor imagery training could be an effective strategy for mitigating/counteracting the negative effects of Ramadan on the tennis service performance.

Ramadan exposure and birth outcomes: a population-based study from the Netherlands.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of daytime fasting, is observed by many pregnant Muslims. Although pregnant women are exempt, many prefer to fast. Previous research has shown long-term adverse effects on various health outcomes among the offspring, but evidence on effects on perinatal outcomes is mixed. This study investigates effects of Ramadan during pregnancy among Muslims in the Netherlands. Data from the Perinatal Registry of the Netherlands (Perined) on all births between 2000 and 2010 to mothers recorded as Mediterranean (i.e. of Turkish/Moroccan descent, a proxy for Muslim) (n = 139,322) or as ethnically Dutch (n = 1,481,435) were used. Ramadan exposure was defined using an intention-to-treat approach as the occurrence of a Ramadan during gestation. Muslims with versus without a Ramadan occurring during gestation were compared using difference-in-differences analyses. In these multiple linear/logistic regressions, non-Muslims were additionally included in order to take out potentially remaining confounding through seasonal effects. The occurrence of a Ramadan during pregnancy among Muslims was not associated with altered birth weight, gestational length, newborn's sex, perinatal mortality, low Apgar, or mild congenital anomalies. Odds for severe congenital anomalies were higher among the exposed (odds ratio: 1.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 1.37), but this association became non-significant when adjusting for multiple testing. Despite earlier research showing long-term adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to Ramadan, there seems to be little or no relation between exposure to Ramadan during pregnancy and birth outcomes.

A systematic review on the effect of Ramadan on mental health: minor effects and no harm in general, but increased risk of relapse in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Objectives Globally, Moslems are the second largest religious group. During the month of Ramadan from dawn to sundown, healthy Moslems are required to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual activity and harmful behaviour towards others and themselves. Thus Ramadan may change individual physical states and social interactions. Both might affect mental health within society. Consequently, this systematic review looks at the various effects of Ramadan on mental health. Methods A literature search on Ramadan and mental health initially identified 294 papers. We finally selected all 22 relevant papers covering Ramadan and mental health from which study data were extracted. Results Relevant papers focussed on the general population and healthy volunteers, on subjects practising sports, on subjects with severe physical disorders, on subjects at risk of eating disorders and on subjects with mental health disorders. The effects of Ramadan on mental well-being were mixed. Positive and negative effects were usually minor, except in subjects with schizophrenia and metabolic syndrome, and in subjects with bipolar disorder who suffered a substantial increase of relapses. Conclusion Ramadan fasting is safe in most conditions and disorders, but caution is required in subjects with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The research on mental health and Ramadan would profit from larger studies with more representative samples to help understand the intra-individual and social factors that affect the mental health and well-being in patients and in society. The scientific potential of such studies may have been overlooked in the psychiatric community.

Biochemical and anthropometric changes during Ramadan among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

In this study, our aim was to assess the impact of fasting during Ramadan on biochemical and anthropological factors in patients with type 2 diabetes and compare them with those who did not fast. This was a prospective study. It was carried out in the city of Yazd, Iran, during Ramadan of 2016. Body weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), lipids, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and fructosamine levels before and after Ramadan were assessed on 120 diabetic patients; 60 of whom had fasting, and 60 had no intention. Fifty-four patients from the fasting group (including 34 fasters with 10- to 25-day fasting (group 1) and 20 fasters with > 25-day fasting (group 2)) and 58 patients from the non-fasting group (group 3) completed the study. This study showed that the mean BMI in three groups significantly decreased, and the highest decrement was seen in group 1 at the end of Ramadan (p value 0.01). Fructosamine was increased in all groups, and the highest increment was seen in group 2 after Ramadan (p value < 0.001). We observed that glycemic status and LDL-C levels worsened after Ramadan in T2DM patients, and beneficial effects of Ramadan on anthropometric factors are not limited to fasters, and other non-faster Muslims also showed weight reduction after Ramadan.

Effects of Ramadan on food intake, glucose homeostasis, lipid profiles and body composition composition.

Changes in food consumption patterns during Ramadan may cause metabolic changes, but these have not been well studied. We aimed to determine food intake, glucose homeostasis, lipid profiles, and body composition before, during, and after Ramadan fasting. 160 healthy men were enrolled and investigated at three times (before, at the end of, and 1 month after Ramadan). Body composition was estimated by bio-impedance. Fasting blood samples were obtained for measuring fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profiles and insulin level. Insulin resistance (IR) was identified by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of peripheral IR. Food intake was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire before and during Ramadan. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 16 and P < 0.05 considered the level of significance. Anthropometric parameters such as body weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage (BFP) as well as FBS and circulating triglycerides were all decreased significantly at the end of Ramadan compared with the same indices measured prior to Ramadan (all P < 0.001). In contrast, at the end of Ramadan, HOMA-IR was significantly elevated (P < 0.001). One month after Ramadan, these traits had all started to return to their pre-Ramadan levels, but were still disrupted. Food intake of all food groups except carbohydrates were decreased during Ramadan. Ramadan fasting may lead to both positive and negative health effects such as a decrease in FBS, weight, BFP, and increase in LDL and IR in healthy adults. However, these effects were all transitory.

A systematic review on the effect of Ramadan on mental health: minor effects and no harm in general, but increased risk of relapse in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Abstract Objectives Globally, Moslems are the second largest religious group. During the month of Ramadan from dawn to sundown, healthy Moslems are required to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual activity and harmful behaviour towards others and themselves. Thus Ramadan may change individual physical states and social interactions. Both might affect mental health within society. Consequently, this systematic review looks at the various effects of Ramadan on mental health. Methods A literature search on Ramadan and mental health initially identified 294 papers. We finally selected all 22 relevant papers covering Ramadan and mental health from which study data were extracted. Results Relevant papers focussed on the general population and healthy volunteers, on subjects practising sports, on subjects with severe physical disorders, on subjects at risk of eating disorders and on subjects with mental health disorders. The effects of Ramadan on mental well-being were mixed. Positive and negative effects were usually minor, except in subjects with schizophrenia and metabolic syndrome, and in subjects with bipolar disorder who suffered a substantial increase of relapses. Conclusion Ramadan fasting is safe in most conditions and disorders, but caution is required in subjects with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The research on mental health and Ramadan would profit from larger studies with more representative samples to help understand the intra-individual and social factors that affect the mental health and well-being in patients and in society. The scientific potential of such studies may have been overlooked in the psychiatric community.

The calendar anomalies on performance and volatility of stock market: the effects of Ramadan on Karachi Stock Exchange

This study attempts to investigate the effects of calendar anomalies (Ramadan effect), a seasonal pattern in the Pakistani equity market. It is believed that the holy month of Ramadan is predicted to effect the behaviour of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) since the environment in the country during Ramadan is different compared to other months since people dedicate more time to execute religious rituals, hence slows down the general economic activity. The observation is based on daily frequencies for a whole decade. The data in this study are the daily KSE 100 index points for ten years running from 1st of January 2001 to 31st of December 2010 all selected from the primary equity market in Pakistan, the KSE. The effects of Ramadan are examined through GARCH and ordinary least square (OLS) models respectively. The analysis draws two conclusions with the first showing that the Ramadan has a minor positive impact on the stock market and the second conclusion states that the stock market shows less volatile behaviour during the holy month of Ramadan.

The calendar anomalies on performance and volatility of stock market: the effects of Ramadan on Karachi Stock Exchange

This study attempts to investigate the effects of calendar anomalies (Ramadan effect), a seasonal pattern in the Pakistani equity market. It is believed that the holy month of Ramadan is predicted to effect the behaviour of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) since the environment in the country during Ramadan is different compared to other months since people dedicate more time to execute religious rituals, hence slows down the general economic activity. The observation is based on daily frequencies for a whole decade. The data in this study are the daily KSE 100 index points for ten years running from 1st of January 2001 to 31st of December 2010 all selected from the primary equity market in Pakistan, the KSE. The effects of Ramadan are examined through GARCH and ordinary least square (OLS) models respectively. The analysis draws two conclusions with the first showing that the Ramadan has a minor positive impact on the stock market and the second conclusion states that the stock market shows less volatile behaviour during the holy month of Ramadan.

Thematic Analysis of Persian Documents in the Field of Quran Study and Medicine in National Scientific-Research Journals from 1992 to 2013 "An Opportunity for Evidence Based Decision Making".

Several documents have investigated the area of Quran study and medicine from different points of view; the present study has been assessing all the documents about Quran study and medicine, published in Iranian scientific-research journals, to create an opportunity of revising the interventions executed in this areas and targeting the decisions in order to draw a clear and more realistic vision. In this simple review study, scientific-research and general informative websites in the period of 1992-2013 were explored by taking advantage of critical keywords such as Islamic medicine and Islamic lifestyle. After the initial retrieval, 348 articles were finally ready for the evaluation process. Chi-square test was used to assess the significance of patterns differences between years of study. Minimum and maximum numbers of articles were published in 1992 (0.28%) and 2011 (12.35%), respectively. The level of execution of studies by using different methods was as follows: about 3.44% qualitative, 29.59% cross-sectional descriptive-analytical, 30.45% review, 1.14% case-control, 17.52% experimental, 3.73% cohort methods and 12.93% were performed by other methods. The most common subject study was "The effects of fasting and Ramadan on health" (21.83%). The most important journals hosting this field articles were the journals of medicine and refinement (27.01%), as well as the Quran and medicine (12.64%), respectively. Chi-square test showed significant thematic differences during the 21years of study. Based on the available evidences, the number of descriptive papers was yet more than the analytical, interventional and scientific-comparative articles. Also, the most studies had been reviewing the medical-Islamic documents. This reflects the need for revising the search strategies of Quran study and medicine.

Influence of Ramadan on Neuroperformance in Healthy Workers

Background - During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. In 2012, Ramadan took place during summer, with fasting periods up to 19 hours. Previous studies have reported delays in sleeping and waking time and consequently decreased daytime alertness. Nevertheless, data on the effects of Ramadan on neuroperformance are scarce. Aims - We investigated the impact of Ramadan on tiredness and neuroperformance in Belgian Muslims.Methods - 20 Subjects were tested outside of Ramadan, halfway the Ramadan and in the last week of the Ramadan. Tiredness was assessed with the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and alertness with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Neuroperformance was tested with the simple reaction time for reaction time (REA-t) and concentration (REA-sd), symbol digit substitution for visual perception (SDS), digit span backwards for short term memory (DSB) and hand-eye coordination test (EYE).Results - Ramadan had no effect on FAS. SSS increased during Ramadan, but remained within normal physiological boundaries. There was no significant effect on REA-t and SDS. Ramadan had beneficiary effects on REA-sd, DSB and EYE. There were no correlations between FAS or SSS and other neuroperformance parameters. Conclusion - Daytime sleepiness moderately increases during Ramadan. Neuroperformance remains mostly unaffected. Concentration improved during Ramadan, but we observed are large interindividual differences.

Sport participation and Ramadan observance: Advice for the athlete

Introduction: A growing number of Muslim athletes now engage in international competition. This raises the question of the advice they should be given if a major event occurs during the month of Ramadan. Methods: A narrative review has been based upon books and extensive reviews completed by the author and other investigators. Results: Practical considerations hamper assessment of the effects of Ramadan upon physical performance, but there seem small decreases in muscular strength and both anaerobic and aerobic capacity. Nevertheless, athletes who wish to observe Ramadan can reduce such effects by prior adjustment of diet and training plans, minimizing sleep loss, and careful management of fluid and food intake during the period of intermittent fasting. Conclusion: Competitors in most events can observe Ramadan with a small loss of athletic performance. However, intermittent fasting can endanger health for individuals with type I diabetes mellitus, and for participants in ultra-endurance events (particularly under hot conditions).