The role of inflammatory markers following Ramadan Fasting

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of fasting during Ramadan on plasma adiponectin and TNF-α levels.
 Methods: This is a cross sectional study, conducted at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST), Karachi, comprising a total of 55 (50%) females and 55 (50%) males whose ages ranged between 20 and 40 years, and fasted during Ramadan (June-July 2014) were enrolled in the study. Subjects were separated into normal weight, overweight and obese males and females. Anthropometric measurements and Fasting venous blood samples were taken at first and last (29th) day of Ramadan. Plasma adiponectin and TNF-alpha levels were assayed with ELISA kits. All values were calculated and presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) and by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. P values < 0.05 were accepted as significant.
 Results: Body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2) in over-weight and obese male subjects exhibited considerable reduction (P<0.05; P<0.05), post Ramadan when compared to their respective pre Ramadan fasting weights. Noticeable and significant reduction was also observed in BMI of obese females (P<0.05). Post Ramadan Overweight Males (P<0.05) and Post Ramadan Obese Males (P<0.001) exhibited significantly elevated plasma adiponectin (μg/mL) values. While plasma adiponectin mean concentration of only obese females were significantly improved at last week of Ramadan (P<0.01). Fasting in Ramadan significantly decreased TNF-α (pg/mL) levels of post obese males and females than Pre-Ramadan-groups (P<0.05; P<0.01) respectively.
 Conclusion: The study reports of noticeable changes with Ramadan fasting resulting increase of plasma adiponectin and decrease of TNF-α levels as well as body weight. The study strongly suggests further investigations on larger sample sizes with possible association of dietary restrictions and weight loss on mechanism of enhanced adiponectin and reduced TNF-α in obese and overweight persons who fast on Ramadan pattern.
 How to cite this:Mushtaq R, Akram A, Mushtaq R, Khwaja S, Ahmed S. The role of inflammatory markers following Ramadan Fasting. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):77-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.95
 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Impact of Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting on the metabolic syndrome components in healthy, non-athletic Muslim people aged over 15 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The presence of the MetS has also been associated with lower plasma adiponectin levels (117) , indicating adipose tissue dysfunction and a two-to four-times increased risk for developing CVD and type 2 diabetes (118) . Similarly, several reports have indicated RDIF was associated with variable increments in adiponectin levels in fasting people (119)(120)(121) . Recently, we found that RDIF was associated with significant reduction in visceral fat surface area (measured by MRI) in fifty-seven overweight/obese participants, concomitant with significant reductions proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), and a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (122) .…”

Ramadan Intermittent Fasting Affects Adipokines and Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Their First-Degree Relatives

“…In our study, adiponectin was significantly decreased by Ramadan fasting in Type 2 DM, FDRs, and healthy control groups, which is in agreement with studies reporting a significant decrease in adiponectin level during the fasting period in healthy controls [ 22 , 45 ] and in overweight/obese individuals [ 46 ], and a decrease in the expression of adiponectin in patients with Type 2 DM [ 47 ]. Other studies, however, reported that adiponectin either increased in healthy controls that have risk factors for Type 2 DM [ 48 , 49 ] or did not change in healthy individuals [ 7 , 42 ]. The observed decrease in adiponectin can be explained by the altered sleeping/feeding pattern during Ramadan, as well as by the previously reported changes in cortisol secretion [ 9 ], where the adiponectin concentrations exhibit ultradian pulsatility, as well as diurnal variation, with a significant nocturnal decline, reaching minimum values in the early morning [ 50 ].…”

Ramadan Fasting During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Observance of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Criteria for Improving the Immune System

“…As a result, changes in the body cause the stem cells to regenerate new cells in the immune system ( 20 , 41 ). The promising results of studies have shown that inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), oxidative stress markers and C-reactive protein (CRP) might be reduced by Ramadan fasting ( 20 , 42 , 43 ).…”