A prospective controlled study on Ramadan fasting in the healthy young males in summer in Germany: effect on cytokines

Abstract

Short communicationDuring the Ramadan fasting (RF) month, participants restrict some activities during day time, particularly consumption of food and beverages. In Germany, Muslims fast about 18–19 h a day when Ramadan falls in the summer. This longer period of restriction could lead to the changes of the body physiology, anthropometric parameters and biological mediators.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-1β. IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) during RF in Germany. Correlations of cytokines with anthropometric parameters were also determined.MethodsFifty healthy adult males were recruited and divided into two equal groups: fasting group (FG) and non-fasting group (NFG). FG was evaluated at T1: one week before, T2: mid-, T3: last days of, and T4: one week after Ramadan. The NFG were evaluated only at T1 and T3.ResultsIn FG significant alterations of IL-1β was observed. Insignificant differences were found between the FG and NFG at T1 and T3 concerning the measured cytokines. Circulating IL-1β increased significantly from T2 to T4 and from T3 to T4. At T3, TNF-α was correlated significantly with anthropometric parameters such as the body weight, the skeletal muscle mass and the fat free mass, whilst IL-12 was correlated significantly with the skeletal muscle mass, the fat free mass and the body water mass at T4.ConclusionsSignificant Alterations of IL-1β during RF in FG were observed. Anthropometric parameters correlate with TNF-α and IL-12 levels during at T3 and T4, respectively.

Ramadan Fasting in Germany (17–18 h/Day): Effect on Cortisol and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Association With Mood and Body Composition Parameters

“…In this study, the level of IL-8, particularly compared to T2, was gradually decreasing until T5. This result is different from other studies ( 14 , 15 ). In one study, there was no significant alteration of IL-8 ( 14 ).…”

“…This result is different from other studies ( 14 , 15 ). In one study, there was no significant alteration of IL-8 ( 14 ). Meanwhile, in another study, significant alterations were observed ( 15 ).…”

“…Interestingly, IL-8 was significantly correlated with body composition-related parameters. This study was in agreement with other study by Razmjou et al (42), but contradicted another study by Ghashang et al that did not show any correlation with body compositionrelated parameters (14). The reason could be that the latter study only included male participants.…”

“…It can be mediated by monocyte metabolic activity and several cytokines (12,13). However, the results concerning inflammatory markers are still inconclusive (13)(14)(15). A previous study elucidated the effects of RF on diabetic-related parameters, such as glucometabolic markers (16).…”

Ramadan intermittent fasting is associated with ameliorated inflammatory markers and improved plasma sphingolipids/ceramides in subjects with obesity: lipidomics analysis

“…Interestingly, the reduction in TNF-α is supported by a previous study, in which it was demonstrated that TNF-α was reduced after Ramadan fasting both at serum and mRNA levels 36 . Moreover, other studies conducted in Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) showed that IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced at the end of Ramadan, while IL-10 was increased but did not reach a significant level in the German study 42 , but it was significantly increased in the UAE study 43 .…”