Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Some Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Healthy and Hypertensive Subjects in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra, India

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammad Salahuddin 1
Masood-ul-Hassan Javed 2
1 Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
2 King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University of Health Sciences-Medicl College, Saudi Arabia
10.22038/jfh.2014.2251
Abstract
Throughout the world, millions of Muslims fast daily during the month of Ramadan from sunrise (Sahar) until sunset (Iftar). Considering the impacts of environment on physiological functions, we performed this study in order to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on some blood parameters of healthy volunteers and hypertensive patients. According to the results, there were no significant changes in the weight, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), serum total cholesterol and packed cell volume (PCV) of volunteers before and after fasting (P<0.05). However, considering hypertensive patients, blood urea significantly increased, while blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic pressures) significantly decreased during the fasting period (P>0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that hypertensive patients, while continuing their previous medications, can safely fast during the month of Ramadan.
Keywords
Ramadan fasting
Body Weight
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Packed cell volume
Urea
Cholesterol
  1. Hosseini S.R.A, Sardar M.A, Hejazi K, Farahati S. The Effect of Ramadan Fasting and Physical Activity on Body Composition, Serum Osmolarity Levels and Some Parameters of Electrolytes in Females. Intern J Endocrin Metabol 2013:11(2):10-20.
  2. Trabelsi K, Stannard S.R, Maughan R.J, Jamoussi K, Zeghal K.M, Hakim A. Effect of resistance training during Ramadan on body composition, and markers of renal function, metabolism, inflammation and immunity in Tunisian recreational bodybuilders. Intern J Sport Nutr Exer Metabo. 2012a:22(6):267–275.
  3. Trepanowski J.F, Bloomer R.J. Review: The impact of religious fasting on human health. Nutr J 2010:9:1-9.
  4. Van Ewijk R.J.G, Painter R.C, Roseboom T.J. Respond to Ramadan Prenatal Fasting and Adult Health Outcomes. Am J Epidem 2013:177(8):729-736.
  5. Trabelsi K, Ahmed C, Zohra G, Choumous K, Zouheir S, Mounir Z.K, Ahmed H. Physical activity during Ramadan fasting: Effects on body composition, hematological and biochemical parameters. IOSR J Pharm 2012:2(5):33-41.
  6. Adlouni A, Ghalim N, Benslimane A, Lecerf J.M, Saile R. Fasting during Ramadan induces a marked increase in High- Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and decrease in Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol. Saudi Med Jnn 1997:8(2):171-176.
  7. Rashed A.H. The Fast of Ramadan (editorial). Brit Med J 1992:304:521-522.
  8. Nagra S.A, Shaista N, Nomani M.Z.A, Ali A. Effect of Ramadan fasting on serum protein concentrations in male and female university students. Can J App Sci 2011:1(2):29-42. Retrieved from http://www.canajas.com
  9. Fararjeh M.A, Al-Jamal A, Faris M.A.E, Al-Kurd R.A, Khalil M, Al-Bustanji Y. Effect of intermittent fasting on lipid profile and hematological parameters in healthy volunteers in Jordan. Univ J Med Dent 2012:1(1):5-9.
  10. Salim I, Al Suwaidi J, Ghadban W, Alkilani H, Salam A.M. Impact of religious Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular disease: a systematic review of the literature. Cardiology and Vascular Disease: Review. Curr Med Res Opin 2013:29(4):343-354.
  11. Booth J. A short history of blood pressure measurement. Proced Roy Soc Med1977:70(11):793–799.
  12. Lamri-Senhadji M.Y, El-Kebir B, Belleville J, Bouchenak M. Assessment of dietary donsumption and time-course of changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins before, during and after Ramadan in young Algerian adults. Singap Med J 2009:50(3):288-294.
  13. Sadiya A, Ahmed S, Siddieg H.H, Babas I.J, Carlsson M. Effect of Ramadan fasting on metabolic markers, body composition, and dietary intake in Emiratis of Ajman (UAE) with metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy2011:4:409–416.
  14. Nematy M, Alinezhad-Namaghi M, Rashed M.M, Mozhdehifard M, Sajjadi S.S, Akhlaghi S, Sabery M, Mohajeri S.A.R, Shalaey N, Moohebati M, Norouzy A. Effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors: a prospective observational study. Nutr J. 2012:11(Sep10):69-74.
  15. Frost G, Pirani S. Meal frequency and nutritional intake during Ramadan: a pilot study. Hum Nutr Appl Nutr 1987:41(1):47–50.
  16. Trabelsi K, Rebai1 H, El-Abed I.K, Stannard S.R, Khannous H, Masmoudi L, Sahnoun Z, Hakim A, Fellman N, Tabka Z. Effect of Ramadan fasting on body water status markers after a Rugby sevens match. Asian J Sport Med 2011:2(3):186-194.
  17. BaHammam A.S. Effect of fasting during Ramadan on sleep architecture, daytime sleepiness and sleep pattern. Sleep and Biological Rhythms 2004:2(2):135–143.
  18. Faris M.A.E, Hussein R.N, Al-Kurd R.A, Al-Fararjeh M.A, Bustanji Y.K, Mohammad M.K. Clinical Study: Impact of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Oxidative Stress Measured by Urinary 15—Isoprostane: Clinical Study. J Nutr Metabo 2012:1-9.
  19. Tian H, Aziz A.R, Png W, Wahid M.F, Yeo D, Constance A. Effects of fasting during Ramadan month on cognitive function in Muslim athletes. Asian J Sports Med 2011:2(3):145–153.
  20. Mohmoud K, Mansi S. Study the effects of Ramadan fasting on the serum glucose and lipid profile among healthy Jordanian students. Am J Appl Sci 2007:4(8):565-569.
  21. Al-Kubati M, Fišer B, Homolka P, Siegelová J. Ramadan fasting and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure, heart rate and robinson index. Physiol Res 2007:56, 3P.
  22. Chamsi-Pasha H, Ahmed W.A. The effect of fasting in Ramadan on patients with heart disease. Saudi Med J 2004:25(1):47-51.
  23. Saleh S.A, Elsharouni S.A, Cherian B, Mourou M. Effect of fasting on waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, and blood sugar on a sample of healthy Kuwaiti men and women. Mal J Nutr 2005:11(2):143-150.
  24. Sayedda K, Kamal S, Ahmed Q.A. Effect of Ramadan fasting on anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, creatine phosphokinase activity, serum calcium and phosphorus in healthy students of Shri Ram Murti smarak institute of medical sciences, Bareilly-UP. Natl J Physio Pharm Phamcocol 2013:3(1):48-52.
  25. Rahman O, Islam M.R. Association between fasting of Ramadan and risk factors of diabetes: A study from Rajshahi city in Bangladesh. Adv J Food Sci Technology 2011:3(5):360-365.
  26. Marbut M.M, Al-Najjar H.A.H.S.M, Abdulrahman M.A. Effect of Ramadan fasting on some physiological parameters. Tikrit Med J 2005:11(2):6-8. 
  27. Mohsen A.F, Hazmi E.L, Faleh Z, et al. Effect of Ramadan fasting on the values of hematological and biochemical parameters. Saudi Med J 1987:8(2):171-176.
  28. Khafaji H.A.R.H, Bener A, Osman M, Al Merri A, Jassim Al, Suwaidi J.A. The impact of diurnal fasting during Ramadan on the lipid profile, hs-CRP, and serum leptin in stable cardiac patients. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2011:8(1):7–14.
  29. Shehab A, Abdulle A, El Issa A, Al Suwaidi J, Nagelkerke N. Favorable changes in lipid profile: The effects of fasting after Ramadan. PLoS One 2012:7(10).
  30. El-Gendy O.A, Rokaya M, Hassan E, El-Batae H.E, Tawfeek S. Ramadan fasting improves kidney functions and ameliorates oxidative stress in diabetic patients. World J Med Sci 2012:7(1):38-48.
  31. Dewanti L, Watanabe C, Sulistiawati, Ohtsuka R. Unexpected changes in blood pressure and hematological parameters among fasting and nonfasting workers during Ramadan in Indonesia. Eur J Clin Nuti 2006:60(7):877-881. Retrieved from http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/57
  32. Al Hourani H.M, Atoum M.F, Akel S, Hijjawi N, Awawdeh S. Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Some Haematological and Biochemical Parameters. Jordan J Biol Sci 2009:2(3):103-108.
  33. Chaouachi A, Chamari K, Roky R, Wong P, Mbazaa A, Bartagi Z. Lipid profiles of judo athletes during Ramadan. Inter J Sp Med 2008:29(4):282–288.
  34. Kul S, Savaş E, Oztürk Z.A, Karadağ G. Does Ramadan fasting alter body weight and blood lipids and fasting blood glucose in a healthy population? A meta-analysis. J Relig Health 2013:20(Feb20).

  • Receive Date 21 December 2013
  • Revise Date 26 January 2014
  • Accept Date 28 January 2014