Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Serum Lipid Levels, Coagulation Status and Plasma Homocysteine Levels

Abstract

Background: During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the daylight hours for a month. The duration of restricted food and beverage intake is approximately 12 h/day which makes Ramadan a unique model of intermittent fasting. Many physiological and psychological changes are observed during Ramadan that are probably due to the changes in eating and sleeping patterns. Methods: Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer and homocysteine levels were measured in 24 healthy fasting volunteers (12 females, 12 males) aged 21–35 years. Venous blood samples were taken 1 week before Ramadan, on the 21st day of Ramadan and 20 days after Ramadan. Results: No significant changes were observed on serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels. HDL levels were significantly elevated during Ramadan (p < 0.001) and 20 days after Ramadan (p < 0.05). Prothrombin time, aPTT, fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were in the physiologic limits in all samples but D-dimer levels were significantly low at the end of Ramadan in comparison to pre- and post-fasting levels (p < 0.001). Homocysteine levels, being still in reference ranges, were low during Ramadan (p < 0.05) and reached the pre-fasting levels after Ramadan. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that intermittent fasting led to some beneficial changes in serum HDL and plasma homocysteine levels, and the coagulation status. These changes may be due to omitting at least one meal when the body was particularly metabolically active and possibly had a low blood viscosity level at the same time. We conclude that intermittent fasting may have beneficial effects on hemostatic risk markers for cardiovascular diseases.

Does Lipid Profile Affect Thrombin Generation During Ramadan Fasting in Patients With Cardiovascular Risks?

“…Results were in accordance with those of Aksungar et al 15 who did not find an effect of Ramadan fasting on clotting times measured on plasma of healthy individuals. However, Saleh et al 16 had investigated the effect of Ramadan fasting on 103 healthy individuals, and they showed a significant decrease in PT but not on aPTT.…”

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Serum Biochemical Markers of Cellular Damage in Healthy Subjects

“…Hormonal studies showed altered cortisol levels [10] and endocrine and neuroendocrine circadian patterns [11,12] . Ramadan fasting was also found to result in reductions in interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and homocysteine levels [13,14] . Behavioral and chronobiological changes have also been reported to occur during Ramadan fasting [1,15] .…”

Does Intermittent Fasting Improve Microvascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Middle-aged Subjects?

“…Changes in meal composition occur frequently during Ramadan fasting [16,58,59]. While one meal is taken after dawn and the other before sunset, they contain usually more calories and larger amounts of sweet and fatty foods.…”