Ramadan Fasting Research Articles

An umbrella review and meta-analysis of meta-analyses of the impact of Ramadan fasting on the metabolic syndrome components

Abstract Context Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, spiritual reflection, and worship for Muslims worldwide. However, the Ramadan fast – which involves abstaining from all food and drink, sunrise to sunset for 29 days–30 days annually – may also influence physical health outcomes, especially relating to the risk of metabolic syndrome. Objective The literature from the top of the pyramid of evidence was gathered and synthesized for this comprehensive umbrella review and meta-analysis of meta-analyses in order to provide an overall conclusion on the impact of Ramadan fasting with regard to metabolic syndrome components. Data Extraction Eleven systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included in the current umbrella review. Nine components, including waist circumference, body weight), high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), and fasting blood plasma glucose were analyzed. Data Analysis The random-effects meta-analysis results revealed standard mean differences as follows: waist circumference –0.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] –0.33 to –0.27), body weight –0.34 (95% CI –0.39 to –0.29), high-density lipoprotein 0.20 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.30), low-density lipoprotein –0.10 (95% CI –0.13 to –0.07), total cholesterol –0.15 (95% CI –0.21 to –0.09), triglycerides –0.16 (95% CI –0.24 to –0.08), systolic blood pressure –0.20 (95% CI –0.23 to –0.17), diastolic blood pressure –0.20 (95% CI –0.22 to –0.18), fasting blood plasma glucose –0.10 (95% CI –0.12 to –0.08). Conclusion Ramadan fasting appears to benefit body weight, lipid profile, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels. Therefore, engaging in fasting during Ramadan may contribute to weight reduction, decreased cardiovascular disease risk, improved blood pressure, and enhanced glycemic control. Nevertheless, the methodological quality of the included reviews ranged from low to critically low, necessitating cautious interpretation of conclusions drawn from these data. Systematic Review Registration Open Science Framework Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/9WVJZ.

Effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on performance, physiological responses, and bioenergetic pathway contributions during repeated sprint exercise.

This investigation aims to elucidate the impact of Ramadan intermittent fasting on performance, physiological responses, and bioenergetic pathway contributions during repeated sprints. Fourteen active male Muslim athletes (age = 22.4 ± 1.8 years, body weight = 69.5 ± 3.8 kg, height = 176 ± 5.1 cm) executed a repeated sprint protocol, consisting of ten 20-meter sprints with 15-s passive recovery intervals, during both fasting and non-fasting conditions. The fasting session was conducted after a 12-14 h fast following Sahur (the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan). In contrast, the non-fasting session occurred before the Ramadan fasting period began, during the same hours of the day, at a time when fasting was not yet required for the athletes. Bioenergetic pathway contributions during repeated sprints were quantified using the PCr-LA-O2 method. The mean sprint time during fasting sessions was 3.4 ± 0.3 s compared to 3.3 ± 0.2 s in non-fasting sessions, indicating a trend approaching the threshold of significance for slower times in the fasted state (p = 0.052, effect size (ES) = 0.34). In terms of bioenergetic contributions, the total metabolic energy expenditure (TEE) was slightly lower during fasting sessions (236.5 ± 22 kJ) compared to non-fasting sessions (245.2 ± 21.7 kJ), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.102, ES = 0.40). Similarly, metabolic energy expenditure per sprint was 23.7 ± 2.2 kJ in fasting conditions compared to 24.5 ± 2.2 kJ in non-fasting conditions (p = 0.106, ES = 0.35). The oxidative energy contribution did not differ significantly between fasting (34.2 ± 4.1 kJ) and non-fasting conditions (34.2 ± 4.1 vs. 35.5 ± 5.2 kJ; p = 0.238, ES = 0.28). Similarly, lactic (60.4 ± 7.6 vs. 59.2 ± 8.3 kJ; p = 0.484, ES = 0.15); and alactic (149.3 ± 19.9 vs. 143 ± 21.5 kJ; p = 0.137, ES = 0.30) energy contributions showed no significant differences between the fasting and non-fasting sessions. The percentage of performance decrement (Pdec) and the percentage contributions of oxidative, lactic, and alactic pathways to the total energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the fasting and non-fasting conditions, indicating a similar bioenergetic profile across both conditions. The present findings indicate no significant differences in performance metrics and metabolic outcomes between fasted and non-fasted states. Future assessments with longer duration and higher intensity protocols may provide further insights.

Alterations in anthropometric, inflammatory and mental health parameters during Ramadan intermittent fasting in a group of healthy people: a prospective cohort study.

Fasting has been practiced with different time span in different areas of the world and for various reasons. One of the types of fasting regimens is Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF), which is described as intermittent dry fasting and known as the most commonly practiced form of religious fasting. Different studies have shown its effects on body composition parameters and mental health, fatigue and quality of life (QoL). Elucidating the relationship of RIF on biological parameters would also be of importance to show its mechanism. Therefore, we evaluated several biological mediators related to mental health, such as ß-nerve growth factor (ß-NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). This study consisted of fasting (FG; n = 25) and non-fasting group (NFG; n = 25). Four different time points were assessed for FG: one week before (T1), mid (T2), last days (T3), and one week after (T4) RIF. T1 and T3 were the assessment time points for NFG. Biological mediators were determined from serum samples by using Human Magnetic Luminex and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, we then performed correlation analyses between biological mediators and our previously published clinical parameters including body composition and mental health parameters at all time points. Significant alterations were shown in FG for ß-NGF (T2vsT3, p < 0.05; T2vsT4, p < 0.05), GDNF (T1vsT4, p < 0.05; T2vsT4, p < 0.05), IL-8 (T2vsT3, p < 0.05; T3vsT4, p < 0.05), TNF-α (T1vsT3, p < 0.05; T1vsT4, p < 0.001; T2vsT4, p < 0.001), and MMP-9 (T1vsT4, p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between FG and NFG in all biological mediators at T1 and T3. Correlation analysis showed that MMP-9 levels had negative correlation with body mass index (BMI) at T3. At T3 BDNF levels had negative correlation with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) as one of measured QoL parameters. ß-NGF, GDNF, TNF-α, and MMP-9 had positive correlation with some of body composition and mental health parameters. Findings demonstrate that RIF altered different biological mediators could give benefit to health. Its benefit is mediated by the alteration of biological mediators.

Ramadan intermittent fasting and its association with health-related indices and exercise test performance in athletes and physically active individuals: an overview of systematic reviews

ObjectiveTo systematically review, summarise and appraise findings of published systematic reviews, with/without meta-analyses, examining associations between Ramadan fasting observance (RO), health-related indices and exercise test performances in athletes and physically...

A Real-World Prospective Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Automated Insulin Delivery Compared With Other Modalities of Type 1 Diabetes Treatment During Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.

To compare the fasting experience and glycemic control during Ramadan among people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) who use automated insulin delivery (AID) versus other modalities of treatment. A total of 294 PWT1D who attempted fasting during Ramadan in 2022 were categorized on the basis of treatment modality into one of five groups: 1) AID (n = 62); 2) conventional pump + continuous glucose monitoring (CGM; n = 37); 3) pump + self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG; n = 8); 4) multiple daily injections (MDI) + CGM (n = 155); and 5) MDI + SMBG (n = 32). Predictors of fasting most days of Ramadan (i.e., breaking fast ≤2 days because of diabetes) were analyzed using uni- and multivariable logistic regression. The median numbers of days when fasting was broken because of diabetes were 2, 5, 3, 3.5, and 2.5 for AID, conventional pump + CGM, MDI + CGM, pump + SMBG, and MDI + SMBG users, respectively (P = 0.047). Users of AID had a significantly greater time in range (TIR) and lower glycemia risk index, time below range, and time above range compared with users of conventional pumps and MDI (both P < 0.05). Likewise, 53% of AID users attained the double target of 1) breaking fast ≤2 days because of diabetes and 2) maintaining TIR ≥70% during Ramadan compared with only 3% of the conventional pump users and 44% of the MDI + CGM users (both P < 0.05). Compared with MDI + CGM users, AID users were twice as likely to complete fasting most days of Ramadan. Use of AID is associated with the highest rates of fasting and best glycemic control during Ramadan fasting.

Determinants of body weight changes during Ramadan fasting in India amid COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) presents unique challenges and opportunities for public health and clinical practice, especially in populations with a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases. This study aims to investigate the impact of RIF on weight change among Indian Muslims and explore the associated demographic, dietary, and behavioral factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of Indian Muslim adults who observed RIF. Participants were asked to report their demographic information, family and personal health history, and dietary and lifestyle behaviors before and during Ramadan month. The primary outcome was body weight change, with secondary outcomes including changes in dietary patterns, physical activity, and other health-related lifestyle behaviors. The study found that during Ramadan, nearly half of the participants (48.5%) self-reported a retained initial weight, while a significant fraction (30.9%) self-reported a modest weight reduction between 0.5 to 2.5 kg at the end of Ramadan. Additionally, self-reported eating practices demonstrated moderately altered by about half (48.4%) of the study participants, with 32.2% reporting minor changes and 8.2% indicating substantial changes. An urban residence was associated with a higher likelihood of weight gain, where urban residents showed 3 times the odds of increased weight compared to rural inhabitants. Employment status emerged as a significant determinant for weight fluctuation, influencing both weight gain and loss. During Ramadan, there was a significant rise in snacking frequency, increasing from 21.7% to 32.6% in comparison with pre-Ramadan. The consumption of large quantities of food more frequently grew from 14.9% to 36%, and the incidence of eating despite not being hungry went up from 17.4% to 33.2%. The study demonstrates that RIF is associated with variable changes in body weight among adult Indian Muslims, influenced by urbanization, employment status, and dietary changes. The findings suggest that clinicians should provide tailored advice about body weight regulation during Ramadan and consider integrating community-based health initiatives within religious settings to improve health outcomes.

Association of Christian Orthodox Fasting with Sociodemographic, Anthropometric and Lifestyle Factors and Serum Biochemical Indices: A Cross-Sectional Study on Patients with Metabolic Diseases.

Christian Orthodox fasting, a type of time-restricted diet, which presents some similarities to the Mediterranean Diet, also including certain similarities with periodic vegetarianism or other time-restricted diets (e.g., intermittent diet and Ramadan fasting), may cumulatively be related to the same or even better beneficial healthy effects as these well-recognized dietary patterns. The present study aimed to explore the potential beneficial impact of Christian Orthodox fasting in patients with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, excessive obesity, hypothyroidism and osteoporosis. This was a cross-sectional study, including 135 patients with metabolic disorders (67 fasters and 68 non-fasters). The enrolled fasters had adapted Christian Orthodox fasting recommendations for at least twelve consecutive years or even from childhood. Relevant questionnaires were used to record sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle data of the study population through face-to-face interviews between the enrolled individuals and qualified personnel during a non-fasting period. Christian Orthodox fasting patients showed a significantly and independently lower prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity, which is highly associated with cardiometabolic disease risks, as well as a significantly and independently lower incidence of hypertension, including separately lower systolic and diastolic pressure, than non-fasting patients. Fasters also had a significantly and independently increased prevalence of an advanced educational level and no smoking history, as well as a lower incidence of sedentary behavior, and a trend of a correlation with reduced c-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, compared to non-fasters. Fasters also exhibited higher serum albumin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, as well as lower glucose levels, than non-fasters. This is one of the few cross-sectional studies demonstrating that Christian Orthodox fasting may promote metabolic health by improving several aspects of metabolic disorders, being associated with specific sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle factors. Further studies conducted on larger sample sizes from different countries and different ethnicities that include Christian Orthodox fasters are recommended to evaluate the impact of long-term religious fasting effects on human health, either as a preventative factor reducing the risk of chronic diseases and especially cardiometabolic disorders or as a nutritional intervention to ameliorate symptom severity.

Ramadan fasting intentions among pregnant women in Lebanon

BackgroundAccording to Islam’s teachings, women are religiously exempt from fasting during pregnancy if a woman is concerned about her health or that of the fetus. This study assesses the intentions of pregnant women to fast during Ramadan and evaluates the contribution of items derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting these intentions.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out in Arabic on a convenience sample of 181 pregnant women in Lebanon using a mixture of in-person (46), telephone (31), and online recruitment (104) techniques from February to April 2020. An Exploratory Bayes Tree Analysis was done to examine which TPB items appeared to separate the intention to fast in the best possible way. Then, an ordinal regression was completed followed by a latent class analysis to examine specific classes of participants that could be determined based on the regression results.ResultsOverall, 58% of participants had the intention to fast all days of Ramadan, 22% had the intention to fast some days and 20% did not intend to fast for any duration. A model was run with perceptions of physical ability, Islam guidance, husband’s opinion importance, mother’s opinion beliefs, and impact on general health as predictors (R2 = 0.74). A four-cluster model was chosen as the most parsimonious one in interpretation, where classes one and two included the groups of women who intended to fast month-long with differences in predictors. Class three represented the group of women who did not have the intention to fast and the final class represented the group of women who had the intention to fast some days of the month. The women’s belief in their physical ability to fast and the opinion of the pregnant women’s mothers were very important in deciding the participants’ intention to fast.ConclusionsItems derived from TPB constructs helped in producing a model predicting women’s intention to fast during Ramadan. Educational messages and interventions related to fasting while pregnant may be delivered by individuals with legitimacy among pregnant women such as those viewed by the target population as powerful motherly figures in their communities.

Ramadan Fasting: Effect on Anxiety Using The DASS-42 Scoring System

Introduction: Ramadan fasting affects dietary propensity and mental health. As part of their courses, medical students encounter stressors such as examinations, college assignments, and others that can impact their mental health and contribute to conditions such as anxiety. Limited research has been conducted to date on the impact of Ramadan fasting on anxiety scores among college students. This study aimed to explore the impact of Ramadan fasting on anxiety using DASS-42 scoring system. Methods: A prospective cohort analytic study was conducted with a cross-sectional approach and a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 242 medical students were sampled and selected by consecutive sampling. The DASS-42 questionnaire was used to evaluate the respondents’ anxiety scores. Results: We found 99 respondents were experiencing anxiety while 143 were normal. The findings revealed that the anxiety scores fell during the pre- to post-Ramadan period for all respondents (p = 0.003), the respondents who had anxiety (p = 0,000), and the normal respondents (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The current study reports that Ramadan fasting was proven to reduce the anxiety scores of all students including those who experienced anxiety and normal subjects.

Metabolic changes with intermittent fasting.

The prevalence of obesity is rising globally and effective strategies to treat obesity are needed. Intermittent fasting, a dietary intervention for weight management, has received growing interest from the general public, as well as healthcare professionals, as a form of lifestyle intervention. We executed a rapid review using PUBMED database to identify systematic reviews that examined the impact of intermittent fasting on metabolic indices, published between 2011 and 2022. Intermittent fasting leads to weight loss of a similar magnitude to continuous energy restriction. Most of the evidence shows that intermittent fasting leads to greater fat loss as measured by fat mass (kg) or body fat percentage compared to an ad libitum diet, but fat loss attained during intermittent fasting is not significantly different to continuous energy restriction, although recent evidence shows intermittent fasting to be superior. There is mixed evidence for the impact of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, fasting glucose and lipid profile. Some studies focused on populations of Muslim people, which showed that Ramadan fasting may lead to weight loss and improvement of metabolic parameters during fasting, although the effects are reversed when fasting is finished. Intermittent fasting is more effective than an ad libitum dietary intake, and equally or more effective as continuous energy restriction, for weight management. However, there is inconclusive evidence on whether intermittent fasting has a clinically beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism.

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.

Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Cardiometabolic and InflammatoryBiomarkers among Saudi Adults with Diabetes.

Diabetes is prevalent in Saudi Arabia. As dietary concerns are central in patients with diabetes, the impact of fasting on health during Ramadan is potentially significant. Decreased meal frequency and changes in food type and amount affect body weight and metabolic profiles. This study aimed to investigate the association between Ramadan fasting and anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in Saudi adults with diabetes. Sixty-eight Saudi adults with diabetes, admitted at the University Diabetes Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were enrolled in this study. Participants were evaluated at the following time points: Six weeks before Ramadan (pre-fasting) and at least 15 days after the initiation of Ramadan (peri-fasting). Anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarker levels were assessed during both visits. After accounting for confounding factors, Ramadan fasting was found to be associated with reduced body weight (kg), waist circumference (cm), and hip circumference (cm). Increased log high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and decreased log interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein levels were observed. Ramadan fasting was associated with increased HDL-C levels and decreased anthropometric measurements and inflammatory cytokine levels. These results support the beneficial role of Ramadan fasting in reducing cardiometabolic abnormalities and inflammation in adults with diabetes.

Effect of intermittent fasting on lipid biokinetics in obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: prospective observational study

BackgroundIntermittent fasting (IF) is a commonly used dietary practice that alternates between periods of unrestricted dietary consumption and abstinence from caloric intake. IF reduces caloric intake along with metabolic switch from utilization of glucose to fatty acids and ketones and resulting in reduction in adiposity and subsequently insulin resistance. Thus, it has been hypothesized that IF regimens can improve body composition in obese and overweight individuals.AimTo assess the effect of IF on lipid biokinetics in obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Patients and methodsThirty overweight or obese T2D patients were recruited from the diabetes outpatient clinics at the Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University. Patients were subjected to time restricted fasting for 16 h (from dawn to sunset) during Ramadan. Anthropometric data were measured for participants before and 3 weeks after Ramadan fasting. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, lipid profile, leptin, beta hydroxybutyrate (βHB) and high sensitive CRP levels were measured 1 week before and 3 weeks after Ramadan fasting.Results30 diabetic patients were recruited with a mean age of 54.3 ± 7.2 years. 24 (80%) were females. Obesity was diagnosed in 27 cases (90%). The median diabetes duration was 10 years. The study showed a statistically significant decrease in post-fasting body weight (BW), Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) & hip circumference (HC). There was a statistically significant decrease of post-fasting low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), Total cholesterol (TC), and leptin. The study also showed a statistically significant increase of post-fasting high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and βHB. No significant change was found in post-fasting levels of HbA1c, FPG, triglycerides (TG) or high sensitive CRP. Post-fasting leptin was positively correlated with post-fasting BW, BMI, WC, and HC. Post-fasting βHB was positively correlated with post-fasting TG, HbA1c, and LDL-C. Leptin levels change (pre vs post fasting) was positively correlated with the change in LDL-C levels.ConclusionIF reduced leptin and increased β-hydroxybutyrate levels. IF is an effective tool for losing weight and visceral fat and improving lipid profile in obese and overweight patients with T2D.

Safety and Efficacy of Semaglutide Use in Diabetes during Ramadan Fasting: A Real-world Experience from Bangladesh

Aims: The study has been conducted to observe the efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide during Ramadan fasting among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from Bangladesh who intended to fast during Ramadan 2022. Methods: This was an open-label, single-center, two-arm parallel-group study. In this prospective observational study, patients were enrolled in two groups depending on treated with or without semaglutide for at least 3 months prior Ramadan. Initially, total 200 patients were enrolled at the first visit (4 weeks before Ramadan); among them, 58 subjects were in the semaglutide group (Group A) and 142 in other than the semaglutide group (Group B). At the end of the second visit (within 4 weeks after Ramadan) after data editing and cleaning, a total of 130 patients (55 subjects in Group A and 75 subjects in Group B) were included in the final statistical analysis. All of them were followed up for a total of 24 weeks including 12 weeks of screening period. The primary objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%), weight loss (kg), hypoglycemia (number of events), and episodes of gastrointestinal (GI) upset (number of events) during Ramadan fasting. Results: Patients in the semaglutide group had better glycemic control after fasting of Ramadan compared to the control group (mean decrease in HbA1c level: 0.61% vs. 0.19%; P &lt; 0.001). In addition, more than 18% of the patients in the semaglutide group achieved good glycemic control (HbA1c &lt;7%), while the rate was 13.3% in the control group. Patients treated with semaglutide achieved a better weight loss than the nonsemaglutide group (2.97 vs. 1.38 kg; P &lt; 0.001). Although there was no significant difference in terms of hypoglycemic events in both the groups (P = 0.13), but the GI symptoms were more common in the semaglutide group than the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Among other secondary endpoints, the serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride were significantly decreased in the semaglutide group compared to the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Semaglutide showed better efficacy in glycemic control, weight loss, and dyslipidemia compared to other hypoglycemic drugs in patients with T2DM during Ramadan. Although patients receiving semaglutide reported fewer hypoglycemic episodes and GI upset events, they might be subjected to other medications or prolonged fasting. Semaglutide might be considered a suitable therapy during Ramadan fasting based on judicial judgment.

The impact of fasting on workplace productivity and wellbeing: a review of fasting in Ramadan

The impact of fasting on workplace productivity and wellbeing: a review of fasting in Ramadan

Eid-al-Fitr festivity and Ramadan fasting attitude among individuals with diabetes from Saudi Arabia

Background: Type 1 diabetes (DM-Type 1), marked by early onset and an autoimmune origin resulting in minimal insulin production, necessitates insulin therapy. This study aims to assess the awareness of diabetic patients, minimize fasting-related complications by identifying the attitudes of Saudi individuals with diabetes, explore diabetes care and dietary patterns, and identify the most common symptoms during Ramadan and Eid-Al-Fitr. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design involving individuals aged 18 and above with diabetes across Saudi Arabia. Over 3 months, 318 responses were collected through an online validated questionnaire, measuring the attitudes of Saudi individuals with diabetes during Eid-al-Fitr festivities and Ramadan fasting. The questionnaire included categories such as behaviour, attitude, food consumption, health complications, medications, and test results. logit regression analysis and other statistical procedures were performed using R language version 4.3.3, with statistical significance set at the 95% confidence level. Results: During religious fasting, statistically significant positive associations were observed with the type of diabetes mellitus (DM) for age (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] = 1.30, 99% CI: 1.072-1.568), use of DM tablets (adjOR = 3.27, 99% CI: 1.774-6.103), use of hypolipidemic medication (adjOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.174-3.902), and glucose level (adjOR = 2.06, 99% CI: 1.414-3.039). Additionally, statistically negative associations were noted in blood sugar control (adjOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.357-0.871) and the use of insulin (adjOR = 0.41, 99% CI: 0.230-0.730). Conclusion: The study findings indicate significant associations with fasting during religious festivities, encompassing hypoglycemia observation, DM tablet use, insulin, hypolipidemic medications, vitamin B complex, eye complications, and elevated glucose levels.

Changes in sleep, physical activity, and health behaviors among Nigerian fasting adults in Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is limited data on sleep, physical activity, and health-related behaviors among the general public during Ramadan, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with sleep and physical activity changes among Nigerian Muslims during Ramadan fasting. A nationwide web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Nigerians aged ≥18 years who performed diurnal fasting during Ramadan. The target sample size was obtained using Fisher's formula, and snowball sampling was employed. Adapted versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II were used to evaluate sleep and physical activity. Correlates of change in physical activity and sleep quality were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Seven hundred and seventy individuals participated in the study. During Ramadan, 39.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.6%-42.6%) reported decreased physical activity, and 56.6% (95% CI; 53.0%-60.2%) stated having self-reported good sleep. The independent correlates of physical activity were female sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.8), having very good sleep (aOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7), and obesity (aOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.7). In addition, factors associated with improved self-reported sleep quality were perceived good health state (aOR: 8.8, 95% CI: 1.1-72.4), sleeping 7-9 h per day (aOR: 5.5, 95% CI: 2.6-10.3), and sleeping for over 9 h per day (aOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.1-14.1). Although physical activity decreased by about a third, over half of the respondents lost weight and slept well during Ramadan. Strategies to include intermittent fasting in positive lifestyle changes could improve the health and well-being of the population.

The Beauty of Individualize Peritoneal Dialysis Prescription by Using Incremental Peritoneal Dialysis during Ramadan Fasting

The Beauty of Individualize Peritoneal Dialysis Prescription by Using Incremental Peritoneal Dialysis during Ramadan Fasting

Psychological Impact of Ramadan Fasting: Insights for General Population and Athletes

Psychological Impact of Ramadan Fasting: Insights for General Population and Athletes

Fasting whips up brain cells and triggers growth factor!

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan informed on the effect of Ramadan fasting on the brain.