The Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Micronutrients and Their Relationship with the Ocular Axial Length and Anterior Chamber Depth

Authors

1 Nutrition research group, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Cornea Research Center, Khatam‐Al‐Anbia Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Nutrition, Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Cancer Research Centers, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Paradise Daneshgah, Azadi Square, Mashad, Iran

5 Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran - Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

6 MSc student of Optometry, Department of Optometry, School of Paramedical Science, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

7 Refractive Errors Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on micronutrients and their correlations with ocular biometry. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 89 healthy volunteers (51 males and 38 females) with the mean of 34.98±9.10 years in Mashhad, Iran. Participants received complete ophthalmic and systemic examinations one week before and one week after the holy month of Ramadan in 2015. Subjects with no history of systemic and ophthalmic diseases were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were obtained from all the participants in the morning in both phases of the study. Levels of micronutrients were measured in the blood samples using the Hitachi 717 analyzer (Hitachi, Japan). In addition, IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany) was applied to determine the ocular axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD). Results: No significant differences were observed in the AL and ACD of the subjects before and after Ramadan fasting (P>0.05). Fasting was found to decrease the levels of uric acid, selenium, sodium, and potassium (P<0.05). However, serum phosphor was observed to increase after the fasting period (P=0.032). No changes were reported in the concentrations of the other micronutrients, including urea, calcium, iron, zinc, creatinine, and albumin (P>0.05). Moreover, no significant association was observed between the AL and ACD with the concentrations of the micronutrients during Ramadan (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, fasting had no significant effects on the overall health and ocular biometry of the fasting individuals during Ramadan. Therefore, it seems that Ramadan fasting is a safe for healthy adults.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health
Volume 5, Issue 4
December 2017
Pages 144-150

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 December 2017
  • Revise Date: 24 February 2018
  • Accept Date: 03 January 2018

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