| Abstract
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During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (lunar), all healthy, capable Moslems are required to abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset daily. To study the effect of Ramadan's dietary regimen, 28 male Moslem volunteers were asked to keep 24-hour dietary records and 3-day physical activity recalls before and during Ramadan (at days 3 and 14). Percent body fat (BF) was determined by Bioelectric Impedance Analysis at days 1 and 28 of Ramadan. Body weights were recorded at days 3, 14 and 28. Plasma ACTH and catecholamines were determined by radioimmunoassay and enzymatic immunoassay at days 1, 14 and 28. Serum lipids, glucose, enzymes (ALT, AST, LDH, Ap and GGT), proteins, electrolytes, iron, Ca, p, uric acid, BUN, creatinine (crn) and total bilirubin (T. Bili.) were assayed at days 1, 14 and 28. The mood of the practitioners was surveyed via a self-evaluation questionnaire at days 3 and 14. Body weight, energy expenditure and BF were significantly decreased during Ramadan (p = 0.05). Sustained, significant elevations of plasma ACTH, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, glucose and cholesterol were observed (p = 0.05). Significant increase in serum ALT occurred towards the middle of the fasting month and returned to almost the base line level by the end of the fasting; while AST levels increased in a linear manner, with a significant difference between the base line and the end of the study measures. LDH was significantly reduced towards the middle of fasting and slightly increased towards the end of fasting to a value below the base line (p = 0.05). Increases in the serum levels of total proteins, albumin, T. Bili., BUN, crn, Na, Ca, P, HDL-C and LDL-C occurred at low significance (p = 0.05). Serum levels of iron, ferritin, K, cl, uric acid, GGT and AP were not altered. Fasting-induced stress was not confirmed in this study. The results of the present study show that Ramadan's fasting alters dietary intakes of the practitioners, which provoked changes in body weight, energy expenditures; hormonal levels and blood parameters, mainly cholesterol and glucose.
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