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. 2019 Jul 15:12:247-254.
doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S172341. eCollection 2019.

Metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases

K Beltaief  1   2 , W Bouida  1   2 , I Trabelsi  1   2 , H Baccouche  1   2 , M Sassi  3 , Z Dridi  4 , T Chakroun  5 , I Hellara  6 , R Boukef  7 , M Hassine  6 , F Addad  8 , R Razgallah  9 , I Khochtali  10 , S Nouira  1   2
Affiliations

Metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases

K Beltaief et al. Int J Gen Med. .

Abstract

Background and aim: The effects of Ramadan fasting on health are a little controversial. The present study is aimed at evaluating the metabolic effects on a group of 517 patients with ≥2 cardiovascular risk factors over a period running from 2012 to 2014.

Methods: Each patient was assessed at three visits: before, during, and after Ramadan. Demographical, clinical and biological tests were performed at each visit.

Results: Metabolically, we noted a significant and discrete rise in blood glucose level (+1.2 mmol/L), triglycerides (+0.3 mmol/L), cholesterol (+0.12 mmol/L) and creatinine (+3 µmol/L) during Ramadan. These disturbances decreased significantly after Ramadan. The same variations were observed among diabetics (n=323). However, there was a significant decrease in HbA1c after Ramadan (9.0% vs 7.6%, p<0.001). Our findings also revealed there was no significant correlation between variations of metabolic parameters and dietary intake. No acute metabolic incidents were reported during the study period.

Conclusion: The current study showed that Ramadan is responsible for a transient but well tolerated disturbance of metabolic parameters followed by a significant post-Ramadan improvement. These changes did not seem to be directly related to dietary intake.

Keywords: Ramadan; fasting; metabolic parameters.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in regard to this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Evolution of the HOmeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance Index (HOMA-IR)** during the three study periods (before, during, and after Ramadan) in the diabetic and nondiabetic populations. *p<0.05 vs before and during Ramadan, §p<0.05 vs during and after Ramadan.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Correlation between total caloric intake and glycemia. (B) Correlation between total caloric intake and total Cholesterol/HDL-C ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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