Favorable Changes in Lipid Profile: The Effects of Fasting after Ramadan

Abstract

AimsWe assessed the effect of fasting during Ramadan on blood pressure (BP), body weight, plasma lipid, and lipoprotein variables among healthy normal individuals.Methods102 (68% male) multi-ethnic volunteers; mean age ± SD (38.7±10.5 years) were randomly recruited in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to be investigated before Ramadan, one day after the end of Ramadan, and four weeks after Ramadan. Anthropometric, demographic, fasting plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by standard methods, and Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using Friedewald’s formula.Results65 subjects completed the study. We found significant and beneficial changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight, waist circumference (WC), TG, HDL-C and LDL-C, at the end of Ramadan, but not in TC. Further, there was a progressive and significant increase and decrease in HDL-C and LDL-C levels, respectively, four weeks after Ramadan.ConclusionsWe observed significant improvements in HDL-C, and LDL-C levels even after four weeks post Ramadan. Ramadan-like fasting may be considered for more effective lipid and lipoprotein control.

Intermittent fasting: a dietary intervention for prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease?

“…22 Such periods of fasting can limit inflammation, 23 improve circulating glucose and lipid levels [24][25][26][27] and reduce blood pressure, 28 even when total calorie intake per day does not change, or is only slightly reduced. Ethical and logistical constraints have restricted most caloric deprivation studies to 6 months, although some have assessed the effects for longer.…”

A Prospective Study Comparing the Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Metabolic Parameters in Healthy Muslims from Three Different Nationalities in Dubai

“…They also observed that reduction in weight, blood pressure, Total Cholesterol and Triglycerides observed during Ramadan, which did not last 4 weeks after Ramadan, these data was not separately analysed in different ethnic groups [6].…”

“…Although this trial has included patients from different ethnic back ground but the authors did not look at ethnic variation during the month of Ramadan [6].…”

The health pros and cons of continuous versus intermittent calorie restriction: More questions than answers

“…Over the past few decades emerging evidence from epidemiologic studies has supported health-related benefits of IF during Ramadan. In patients who observed fast during Ramadan, studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity [26], improved glycemic control, and improvement in lipid profiles [27,28].…”