Document Type : Original
Authors
1
Department of Chemical Pathology, Medical Laboratory Science Program, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
2
Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Oni & Sons Hospital, HMB, Ibadan, Nigeria.
3
Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Baze University, Nigeria.
4
Department of Nursing, Qassim University Medical City (QUMC), Buraydha, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
5
Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Haematology and Blood Transfusion Services Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
6
Chester Medical School, University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom.
7
Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Chemical Pathology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
8
Medical Laboratory Science Program, College of Health Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria.
Abstract
Background and Objective: Research on the subject of religious fasting has seen a marked increase over the last two decades, with a particular emphasis on the Ramadan fast. The present study examined its impact on metabolic, hematological, and biochemical parameters in healthy adult Muslims in Ogbomoso, Nigeria, despite conflicting global findings and scant West African data.
Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy adult volunteers, aged between 25 and 56 years, and with no evidence of chronic illness, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension, were enrolled in the study. The participants were non-smokers, non-obese, and observed the fast during the month of Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset for a period of 29 days. A semi-quantitative food questionnaire was utilized to document the dietary patterns of the subjects on days 0 and 29. Blood samples were collected prior to and during the fast at various intervals, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Comprehensive arrays of hematological and biochemical parameters were meticulously analyzed from the collected blood samples.
Results and Conclusion: The results demonstrated a substantial decrease in weight, waist-height ratio, body fat percentage, and plasma glucose levels during the practice of Ramadan fasting. A decline in cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, accompanied by an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels was also observed. Furthermore, significant alterations in hematocrit, hemoglobin, and white blood cells were observed during the fasting period. However, no significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed in the levels of albumin, total protein, AST, and ALT. The anthropometric and metabolic characteristics of healthy adults residing in Ogbomoso, Nigeria, are significantly influenced by the Ramadan fast. The results obtained are consistent with those of earlier research, which described hematological alterations, and point to possible advantages for the management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study underscores the necessity for further research on the health implications of Ramadan fasting and provides valuable insights.
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