Effect Of Fasting During Ramadan on Some Health Biomarkers Among Adult Sudanese Subjects

Background Ramadan fasting is an ideal paradigm for investigating the metabolic implications of prolonged intermittent dietary restriction. Our research aimed to evaluate the impact of the Ramadan fasting model on some physiological and health biomarkers among apparently healthy Sudanese subjects. Methods This is a cohort study in which data were collected at three intervals: the first week, the fourth week of Ramadan fasting, and 4 weeks after the end of Ramadan fasting using a questionnaire and blood samples from healthy volunteers (n = 50), then separated and used for glucose and lipid measurements. Results Serum fasting glucose and lipids decreased significantly at the beginning of Ramadan fasting (P<0.001) compared to one month after Ramadan. The frequency of meals was considerably reduced (P <0.05) throughout Ramadan, while the energy intake for normal nonfasting conditions averaged (1808±55) and (1450±173) kcal/day for men and women, respectively. The average PAL for men was found to be (1.58), and (1.49) for women, with a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in body weight and body mass index at the end of Ramadan. Conclusions The serum glucose, lipid profile, and body weight of all subjects decreased considerably during Ramadan fasting despite the increase in daily energy intake and physical exercise. This study demonstrates that significant adjustments in dietary habits could help decrease serum lipid levels and thus reduce the incidence of atherogenic risk factors.