Ramadan Fasting Basic Information and Nutritional Habits among MASHAD Study Population

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Transplant Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 International UNESCO Center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Ramadan is the ninth lunar month. During this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This study aimed to describe the Persian cohort participants’ basic information and nutritional habits regarding Ramadan fasting. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on Mashhad study population who completed the validated Ramadan fasting questionnaire. Results: Total number of 8769 individuals (59.2% females, mean age of 57.44±8 years) participated in this study. There was a significant difference in fasting between men and women in society; 97% of women and 90.2% of men have fasted during their lifetime (P <0.001). In total, 63.2% of those who did not fast suffered from chronic diseases, 7.5% from acute conditions, 14.9% from weakness, and 14.5% from personal reasons. Almost 94% of the studied population did not experience any medical problems during fasting. Among these, severe hypoglycemia was the most reported during fasting (1.9%) followed by loss of consciousness in 1.5% of subjects, which was statistically different based on gender (1% of men and 1.7% of women, P=0/008). Conclusion: Based on the results, 94.3% of the studied population had a history of fasting, and women have fasted sooner and significantly higher than men during their lifetime. The main reasons for non-fasting were chronic disease in women and personal reasons in men. Almost 94% of the fasted population reported no medical problems during fasting. The most commonly reported problem during fasting was severe hypoglycemia.

Keywords

References

  1. Sakr AH. Fasting in Islam. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 1975; 67(6):17-21.
  2. Azizi F. Medical aspects of Islamic fasting. Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 1996; 10(3):241-6.
  3. Hossain N, Samuel M, Mughal S, Shafique K. Ramadan Fasting: Perception and maternal outcomes during Pregnancy. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021; 37(5):1262.
  4. Bowling A. Research methods in health: Investigating health and health services research. 4th ed M, England: Open University Press; 2002.
  5. Iraki L, Bogdan A, Hakkou F, Amrani N, Abkari A, Touitou Y. Ramadan diet restrictions modify the circadian time structure in humans. A study on plasma gastrin, insulin, glucose, and calcium and on gastric pH. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 1997; 82(1):1261-73.
  6. Sarraf-Zadegan N, Atashi M, Naderi GA, Baghai AM, Asgary S, Fatehifar MR, Samarian H, Zarei M. The effect of fasting in Ramadan on the values and interrelations between biochemical, coagulation and hematological factors. Annals of Saudi medicine. 2000; 20(5-6):377-81.
  7. Grindrod K, Alsabbagh W. Managing medications during Ramadan fasting. Canadian Pharmacists Journal/Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada. 2017;150(3):146-9.
  8. Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Moohebati M, Esmaily H, Ebrahimi M, Parizadeh SM, Heidari-Bakavoli AR, Safarian M, Mokhber N, Nematy M, Saber H, Mohammadi M. Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study: design, baseline characteristics and 10-year cardiovascular risk estimation. International journal of public health. 2015; 60(5):561-72.
  9. Alinezhad-Namaghi M, Nematy M, Sahranavard T, Eslami S, Khadem-rezaiyan M, Afarideh Sani M, Norouzy A. Development and Validation of Ramadan Fasting Basic Information and Nutritional Habits Questionnaire. Journal of Nutrition, Fasting and Health. 2022; 10(1):305-10.
  10. Khazneh E, Qaddumi J, Hamdan Z, Qudaimat F, Sbitany A, Jebrin K, et al. The effects of Ramadan fasting on clinical and biochemical markers among hemodialysis patients: A prospective cohort study. PloS one. 2019; 14(6):e0218745.
  11. Alinezhad-Namaghi M, Salehi M. Effects of Ramadan fasting on blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a systematic review. Journal of Fasting and Health. 2016; 4(1):17-21.
  12. Nematy M, Alinezhad-Namaghi M, Rashed MM, Mozhdehifard M, Sajjadi SS, Akhlaghi S, et al. Effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors: a prospective observational study. Nutr J. 2012; 11.
  13. Hassanein M, Al-Arouj M, Hamdy O, Bebakar WMW, Jabbar A, Al-Madani A, et al. Diabetes and Ramadan: Practical guidelines. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017; 126:303-16.
  14. Norouzy A, Mohajeri SM, Shakeri S, Yari F, Sabery M, Philippou E, Varasteh AR, Nematy M. Effect of Ramadan fasting on glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Journal of endocrinological investigation. 2012; 35(8):766-71.
  15. Parilla Ruiz, F., Ca´rdenas Cruz, D.P., Vargas Ortega, D.A., & Ca´rdenas Cruz, A. The Ramadan fast and an emergency unit. Atencion Primaria. 2003; 32(6):61-3.
  16. Göçmen E, Koç M, Tez M, Yoldaş Ö, Bilgin A, Keşkek M. Effect of Ramadan on surgical emergencies. Annals of emergency medicine. 2004; 44(3):283-5.
  17. Topacoglu H, Karcioglu OĞ, Yuruktumen AS, Kiran Sİ, Cimrin AH, Ozucelik DN, Sarikaya SE, Soysal SÜ, Turpcu U, Bozkurt S. Impact of Ramadan on demographics and frequencies of disease‐related visits in the emergency department. International journal of clinical practice. 2005; 59(8):900-5.
  18. Herrag M, Lahmiti S, Yazidi AA. Ramadan: a different side of the emergencies?. African health sciences. 2010; 10(2):215.
  19. Abdolreza N, Omalbanin A, Mahdieh TS, Ali MR, Reza MS, Maryam S, Mohsen N. Comparison of the number of patients admitted with renal colic during various stages of peri-Ramadan month. Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation. 2011; 22(6):1199.
  20. Langford EJ, Ishaque MA, Fothergill J, Touquet R. The effect of the fast of Ramadan on accident and emergency attendances. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1994; 87(9):517-8.
  21. Bener A, Absood GH, Achan NV, Sankaran-Kutty M. Road traffic injuries in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates. Journal of the Royal Society of Health. 1992; 112(6):273-6.
  22. Shanks NJ, Ansari M, Ai-Kalai D. Road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia. Public health. 1994; 108(1):27-34.
  23. Saadatnia M, Zare M, Fatehi F, Ahmadi A. The effect of fasting on cerebral venous and dural sinus thrombosis. Neurological Research. 2009; 31(8):794-8.
  24. Lamri-Senhadji MY, El Kebir B, Belleville J, Bouchenak M. Assessment of dietary consumption and time-course of changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins before, during and after Ramadan in young Algerian adults. Singapore Medical Journal. 2009; 50(3):288.
  25. Adlouni A, Ghalim N, Benslimane A, Lecerf JM, Saïle R. Fasting during Ramadan induces a marked increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 1997; 41(1):242-9.
  26. Frost G, Pirani S. Meal frequency and nutritional intake during Ramadan: a pilot study. Human nutrition. Applied Nutrition. 1987; 41(6):47-50.
  27. Gharbi M, Akrout M, Zouari B. Food intake during and outside Ramadan. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2003; 9 (1-2), 131-40.
  28. Lamine F, Bouguerra R, Jabrane J, Marrakchi Z, Rayana B, Slama B, Gaigi S. Food intake and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels changes during ramadan fasting in healthy young subjects. La Tunisie Médicale. 2006; 84(10):647-50.
  29. MJ OL, Martínez L. Nutritional assessment in a Moroccan university population during Ramadan. Nutricion Hospitalaria. 2006; 21(3):313-6.
Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health
Volume 11, Issue 1
March 2023
Pages 67-72

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 14 March 2023
  • Revise Date: 04 April 2023
  • Accept Date: 04 April 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics