Does Ramadan Fasting Alter Body Weight and Blood Lipids and Fasting Blood Glucose in a Healthy Population? A Meta-analysis

Kül, Seval; Savaş, Esen; Öztürk, Zeynel Abidin; Karadağ, Gülendam

doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9687-0

Cited by 192 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…One major difference between human and rodent studies is that human subjects tend to behaviourally reduce food intake during TRF when permitted ad libitum/ self-selected intake (51,54) . Similarly, many Ramadan studies report a mild energy deficit, although this is not a universal finding (55,57) . Where energy restriction is absent, or minimal, current evidence suggests that TRF can influence metabolism (both positively and negatively), necessitating further study into the optimal fasting window (52,53) .…”

Section: Outstanding Questionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of intermittent fasting on glucose and lipid metabolism

et al. 2017

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Two intermittent fasting variants, intermittent energy restriction (IER) and time-restricted feeding (TRF), have received considerable interest as strategies for weight-management and/or improving metabolic health. With these strategies, the pattern of energy restriction and/or timing of food intake are altered so that individuals undergo frequently repeated periods of fasting. This review provides a commentary on the rodent and human literature, specifically focusing on the effects of IER and TRF on glucose and lipid metabolism. For IER, there is a growing evidence demonstrating its benefits on glucose and lipid homeostasis in the short-to-medium term; however, more long-term safety studies are required. Whilst the metabolic benefits of TRF appear quite profound in rodents, findings from the few human studies have been mixed. There is some suggestion that the metabolic changes elicited by these approaches can occur in the absence of energy restriction, and in the context of IER, may be distinct from those observed following similar weight-loss achieved via modest continuous energy restriction. Mechanistically, the frequently repeated prolonged fasting intervals may favour preferential reduction of ectopic fat, beneficially modulate aspects of adipose tissue physiology/morphology, and may also impinge on circadian clock regulation. However, mechanistic evidence is largely limited to findings from rodent studies, thus necessitating focused human studies, which also incorporate more dynamic assessments of glucose and lipid metabolism. Ultimately, much remains to be learned about intermittent fasting (in its various forms); however, the findings to date serve to highlight promising avenues for future research.

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Section: Outstanding Questionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of intermittent fasting on glucose and lipid metabolism

et al. 2017

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“…A 2013 meta-analysis of 30 cohort studies that included healthy young men and women examined whether Ramadan fasting altered biomarkers in addition to weight (62). The primary finding of this meta-analysis was that after Ramadan fasting, LDL and fasting blood glucose levels were decreased in both sexes and also in the entire group compared with levels prior to Ramadan (62).…”

Section: Ramadan Fastingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting

2017

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The objective of this review is to provide an overview of intermittent fasting regimens, summarize the evidence on the health benefits of intermittent fasting, and discuss physiological mechanisms by which intermittent fasting might lead to improved health outcomes. A MEDLINE search was performed using PubMed and the terms "intermittent fasting," "fasting," "time-restricted feeding," and "food timing." Modified fasting regimens appear to promote weight loss and may improve metabolic health. Several lines of evidence also support the hypothesis that eating patterns that reduce or eliminate nighttime eating and prolong nightly fasting intervals may result in sustained improvements in human health. Intermittent fasting regimens are hypothesized to influence metabolic regulation via effects on (a) circadian biology, (b) the gut microbiome, and (c) modifiable lifestyle behaviors, such as sleep. If proven to be efficacious, these eating regimens offer promising nonpharmacological approaches to improving health at the population level, with multiple public health benefits.

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“…Ramadan fasting can be associated with favourable physiological changes among healthy individuals, such as decreased body weight and beneficial changes in lipid profile [15]. The picture is not so clear for individuals with diabetes and the risks posed by the pathophysiology that disrupts normal glucose homeostatic mechanisms need further studies.…”

Section: Physiology Of Ramadan Fasting and Diabetesmentioning

confidence: 99%