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. 2021 Jul 9;18(14):7340.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147340.

Ramadan Observance Is Associated with Impaired Kung-Fu-Specific Decision-Making Skills

Anis Saddoud  1   2 , Aïmen Khacharem  3   4 , Cyrine H'Mida  1   2 , Khaled Trabelsi  1   2 , Omar Boukhris  1   5 , Achraf Ammar  6   7 , Cain C T Clark  8 , Jordan M Glenn  9   10 , Hamdi Chtourou  1   5 , Mohamed Jarraya  1   2 , Thomas Rosemann  11 , Beat Knechtle  11   12
Affiliations

Ramadan Observance Is Associated with Impaired Kung-Fu-Specific Decision-Making Skills

Anis Saddoud et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of Ramadan observance (RAM) on decision-making in Kung-Fu athletes. Fourteen male Kung-Fu athletes (mean age = 19 ± 3 years) completed two test sessions: before Ramadan (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (ER). In the afternoon of each session (between 16:00 h and 18:00 h), participants completed: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Subjects also reported subjective fatigue, alertness, and concentration. Additionally, all participants performed video-based decision-making tasks (i.e., reaction time and decision-making). Results indicated that reaction time decreased by 30% at ER vs. BR (p < 0.01). However, decision-making decreased by 9.5% at ER vs. BR (p < 0.05). PSQI results indicated sleep quality score, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency were negatively affected at ER compared to BR (p < 0.05). ESS was higher at ER compared to BR (p < 0.05). In addition, fatigue scores, estimated by the POMS and current subjective feelings (i.e., fatigue, concentration, and alertness), were also negatively affected at ER compared to BR (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Ramadan observance was associated with an adverse effect on sleep and decision making, as well as feelings of fatigue, alertness, and concentration.

Keywords: athletes; decision making; fatigue; intermittent fasting; sleep; sleepiness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The schematic representation of the experimental design.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The response accuracy recorded before Ramadan (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (ER). *: Significant difference compared to BR.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reaction time recorded before Ramadan (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (ER). *: Significant difference compared to BR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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