Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of fasting during Ramadan on plasma adiponectin and TNF-α levels. Methods: This is a cross sectional study, conducted at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST), Karachi, comprising a total of 55 (50%) females and 55 (50%) males whose ages ranged between 20 and 40 years, and fasted during Ramadan (June-July 2014) were enrolled in the study. Subjects were separated into normal weight, overweight and obese males and females. Anthropometric measurements and Fasting venous blood samples were taken at first and last (29th) day of Ramadan. Plasma adiponectin and TNF-alpha levels were assayed with ELISA kits. All values were calculated and presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) and by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. P values < 0.05 were accepted as significant. Results: Body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2) in over-weight and obese male subjects exhibited considerable reduction (P<0.05; P<0.05), post Ramadan when compared to their respective pre Ramadan fasting weights. Noticeable and significant reduction was also observed in BMI of obese females (P<0.05). Post Ramadan Overweight Males (P<0.05) and Post Ramadan Obese Males (P<0.001) exhibited significantly elevated plasma adiponectin (μg/mL) values. While plasma adiponectin mean concentration of only obese females were significantly improved at last week of Ramadan (P<0.01). Fasting in Ramadan significantly decreased TNF-α (pg/mL) levels of post obese males and females than Pre-Ramadan-groups (P<0.05; P<0.01) respectively. Conclusion: The study reports of noticeable changes with Ramadan fasting resulting increase of plasma adiponectin and decrease of TNF-α levels as well as body weight. The study strongly suggests further investigations on larger sample sizes with possible association of dietary restrictions and weight loss on mechanism of enhanced adiponectin and reduced TNF-α in obese and overweight persons who fast on Ramadan pattern. How to cite this:Mushtaq R, Akram A, Mushtaq R, Khwaja S, Ahmed S. The role of inflammatory markers following Ramadan Fasting. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):77-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.95 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background: The present study was planned to investigate the level of cholesterol in obese/nonobese (normal) individuals according to their body mass index (BMI) and age in different population residing in Karachi. Aim: Comparison of serum cholesterol values of obese with normal subjects and comparison of BMI of obese and normal individuals. Methods: Selection of obese subjects was according to the WHO (1998) criteria. A total of 40 subjects 18-55 years of age participated in the study, among which 30 subjects (Mean Age = 29.47 ± 1.99) were obese (Mean BMI = 35.41 ± 0.878) and 10 were controls with Mean age = 21.00 ± 0.547 and BMI = 19.96 ± 0.432. An overnight fasting blood sample was obtained and serum total Cholesterol (T-CH) level was estimated. Results: Obese persons having Mean T-CH = 202.6 ± 14.3 and controls having Mean T-CH = 173.3 ± 14.0. The data were further divided into males and females. Obese females were 11 with their BMI 31.836 ± 0.21, mean age ranged at 28.73 ± 4.04 and T-CH 191.8 ± 21.8, while that of control females were 6 in number with their BMI ranged at 19.183 ± 0.507, age 21.000 ± 0.894 and Cholester 148.7 ± 16.0 in controls. Total numbers of obese males were 19 with their BMI ranged at 37.49 ± 1.14, age ranged at 29.89 ± 2.19 and cholesterol level ranged at 208.89 ± 19.1. Control males were 4 in number with their BMI ranged at 21.125 ± 0.075, age 21.250 ± 0.479 and their T-CH 128.7 ± 8.72. Conclusion: The results of current study have reflected that BMI and total cholesterol concentration are higher in obese subjects.

A total of 64 male obese subjects were randomized to observe the effect of 40 g of walnut in daily breakfast on lipid profile and Body Mass Index (BMI), total Cholesterol (CHO), Triglyceride (TG) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in obese male subjects of various ethnics i.e. Baloch (B), Pathan (P), Hazara (H) and Punjabi (PU) residing in Quetta region of Balochistan for this purpose four weeks controlled study was designed. A batch of 32 obese male subjects 8 from each ethnic group as a control and another batch of 32 obese males 8 from each ethnic group as treated were selected. Twelve hour fasting blood samples a day after stoppage of walnut were taken from obese control and obese treated subjects. Daily walnut consumption in obese male subjects evidently demonstrated reduced BMI in all ethnic groups. Walnut supplementation in obese exhibited significant reduction in cholesterol level in Baloch (P < 0.001) and Punjabi (P < 0.01) males. There was profound and statistically significant [B (P < 0.05), P (P < 0.05), H (P < 0.01) and PU (P < 0.05)] elevation in HDL-C in all male ethnic groups. In male sub-population LDL-C was significantly [P (P < 0.01), H (P < 0.001) and PU (P < 0.05)] reduced in these groups. In these subjects walnut supplementation showed pronounced reduction [B (P < 0.001), P (P < 0.05), H (P < 0.001) and PU (P < 0.001)] in triglyceride levels. The constructive influence of walnut on lipid profile suggests that walnut rich diet may have advantageous effects beyond changes in plasma lipid level.

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This is a case control and cohort study, conducted at Department of Biochemistry in FUAST, compressing 24 number of albino Wistar rats. Illicium verum (star anise) natural spice and green vegetable broccoli are used for chemo-preventive herbal treatment in relation with vitamin C antioxidant activity. Hepatotoxicity was induced in liver of model rats by giving interperitoneally single injection of 200 mg/kg bod weight (B.W) of N-nitrosodiethylamine and orally giving 1 mg/kg BW phenobarbital for 14 days during disease prorogation period. The vitamin C analysis from Illicium verum (star anise), green broccoli, orange juice, orange peel and orange pulp was done by iodometric quantitative and qualitative titration method. Rats were given compound according to their bodyweight as 1 mg/kg B.W. After 14 days (Disease Promotion and Propagation Period) and 28 days (Disease cure period) of treatment behavioral activity was monitored by locomotors activity in open field experiment, stimulatory activity in home cage and anxiolytic effects observed in light and dark apparatus and also in T maze. Behavioral activity were significantly increased in Illicium verum and green broccoli treated rats. Hematological study including hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW) and Platelets was done by abbot laboratory analyzer cell. The value of Hb and RBC was also significantly increased in star anise and broccoli treated rats, showed proper function of RBC in microcirculation. WBC was also in normal range revealed that no disease regards to bone marrow and leukemia’s. The biochemical activity of rats including urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, amylase and calcium in blood serum were analyzed while, liver health or performance was also determined by LFT (liver function test). Behavioral and laboratorial variables were analyzed by using SPSS v. 20 and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study report noticeable significant effect of Illicium verum and broccoli on hepatotoxicity of experimental model. Recent experimental study statistical outcomes show reciprocal relationship between the consumption of vegetable diet and natural spice with the risk of Hepatotoxicity. Thus, the aim of the study is to enhance the function of star anise or illicium verum natural spice and green vegetable broccoli as an anticancer or chemoprophylaxis agent.

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Raphanus raphanistrum (radish) on chronic kidney disease damage by reactive oxygen species or free radicals in animal model rats. Total of 18 rats were used in this study, divided into 3 groups and each group consist of 6 rats. Group 1 control (C), group 2 model (M) and group 3 test (T). Model and test group were treated with alcohol to produce chronic kidney disease by reactive oxygen spices for 9 weeks a dose of 1 ml. After that test group was treated with Raphanus raphanistrum juice for 4 weeks 80mg/kg body weight to determine it effect. Raphanus raphanistrum juice effect on behavior of rats through increases the locomotor activity and anxiety. The serum creatinine and uric acid level were significantly improved in T group. The reactive oxygen enzyme test shows that Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) was increase in T group. The Glutathione S-Transferases (GST) and Catalase (CAT) enzyme level was nearly same in C and T groups. This study concludes that compound 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl found in Raphanus raphanistrum juice and possess strong antioxidant activity on Chronic kidney disease induce by ethanol through reactive oxygen species. There is need of more researches to determine the use of natural compound to treat different disease.