The Physiological Effect of Fasting the Month of Ramadan on Anthropometrics and Blood Variables

Abstract

Manystudies have beenconducted onfastingduring the monthof Ramadan;however, their resultswerevastly inconsistent.Itis importanttonote thatnone of these studiescontrolledor evenmonitoredphysical activityandfoodintake.PurposeThisstudy willdetermineifintermittentfastingwillaffectbody composition, blood lipid profile,glucose, blood proteins and hormones.MethodsEight healthyathletemales participatedinthisstudy.Weight,height andbody compositionofallsubjectswererecordedatbaselineoneday before Ramadan(D1),after ten daysof fastingRamadan(D10) andtwenty‐eightdaysof fastingRamadan (D28). All data was analyzed using 1x3 repeatedmeasuresANOVA(p<.05).ResultsThere wassignificantdecreasein bodymassandLeanbody masscomparingD28withD1andD10.Vigorousactivityand ModerateactivityweresignificantlydecreaseatD10andD28ofRamadan. Thepercentagewhichrecommendeddietary allowancesof caloriesfromproteinshowedsignificantdecreaseatD10andD28comparetoD1.Inaddition,the percentage of calories fromcarbohydrate showedsignificant increaseatD10andD28comparetoD1.FastedGlucoselevelsweresignificantly increasedat D10compareto D1. Glucagondecreasesignificantly at D10, but not at D28.Inaddition,Albumin levelsweresignificantlyloweratD10andD28compareto D1;however,all measurements were stillwithinnormal/healthrange.ConclusionResultsshowthelevelofphysicalactivity andfoodintakeare majorcontributingfactorsonthereductioninbodyweight.Overall,thesefindingsindicatenohealthriskforfastingthe month of Ramadan.