Effect of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Haematological Parameters, Lipid Profile and Renal Markers in Young Muslim Males of Kolkata, India

Thirty seven young Muslim untrained male subjects (experimental group or EG, age: 22.73±1.56 yrs) participating in Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) and forty non–fasting counterparts (control group or CG, age: 22.92±1.36 yrs) from different parts of Kolkata, India were recruited in the study to evaluate the effects of RIF on selective haematological profiles, biochemical parameters and renal markers in the studied population. Insignificant difference was found between pre and post Ramadan values of the studied parameters, except in case of fasting blood sugar (FBS) level that was significantly affected by RIF in the EG. CG showed insignificant change in FBS before and after the month of Ramadan. It can be concluded from the present investigation that RIF adversely affected the FBS in fasting individuals although hematological parameters, lipid profile and renal markers were not influenced by RIF in the studied population. J Physiol Pharmacol 2017; 61(4) : 361–367 *Corresponding author : Dr. Amit Bandyopadhyay M.Sc., Ph.D., FICN, Assistant Professor, Sports and Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata – 700 009, India, Telephone : +91 33 23508386 (Extension : 317), Fax : +91 33 23519755, E-mail : [email protected] (Received on August 1, 2017) restriction (3). Ramadan is a lunar month and it becomes 11 days earlier in each solar year (4). During RIF Muslims also abstain from taking oral medicine, intravenous fluid and nutrients from dawn to sunset (5) with reduced physical activity (6). Studies reported that the frequency (7, 8) and quantity (9) of food intake are usually reduced during Ramadan. So it might be expected that caloric intake is reduced during this month (10), which results in reduced body weight (10-13). However, some investigations have reported insignificant changes in body weight or body composition during Ramadan (14-16). Several studies reported the effect of RIF on certain haematological parameters (4, 17, 18) but still it is a matter of debate. A small change in urea and Introduction Ramadan is the major religious period of Islam (1) during which all healthy Muslims abstain from food and water intake from sunrise to sunset known as Ramadan Intermittent Fasting (RIF) (2). Eating is allowed from sunset to dawn without any caloric 362 Roy and Bandyopadhyay Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2017; 61(4) the post–Ramadan values of the studied parameters. Selection of subject Thirty seven Young Muslim untrained male subjects (mean age: 22.73±1.56 years, mean height : 165.35±6.35 cm) who were undergoing RIF were recruited from different parts of Kolkata, India as the experimental group (EG) in this time series study. Another group of forty untrained Muslim male subjects (mean age: 22.92±1.36 years, mean height: 166.17±3.88 cm) who were not undergoing RIF and other rituals of the month of Ramadan were recruited from the same community as the control group (CG). All the subjects belonged to the age group of 20–25 years with similar socioeconomic background. The sample size was calculated using the method of Das and Das (32) where the input of confidence interval was set as 95%. The study was conducted with th i r ty seven (37) and for ty (40) sub jects in experimental and control group, respectively, which was greater than the computed sample size of thirty two (32) in each group. The pre Ramadan and post Ramadan body weight of CG were 55.93±6.33 kg and 56.39±7.31 kg, respectively and that for EG were 57.5±7.26 kg and 55.53±7.28 kg, respectively. Subjects belonging to religions other than Muslim, doing regular exercise, and under medication or with any history of health complication were excluded from the study. The experimental protocol was explained and demonstrated to all of them in the familiarization trial to allay their apprehension. Each subject signed the written informed consent form. The entire study was approved by the Human Ethical Committee, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta. Age of each subject was calculated in nearest year from the date of birth as obtained from their identification card issued by the Government of India. Subjects arrived in the laboratory at 9 am in all the occasions. Body height and body mass were measured with the subject standing barefoot and wearing minimum clothing on a weighing machine fitted with height measuring rod (Avery India Ltd, India) with an accuracy of ±0.50 cm and ±0.1 kg, respectively. creatinine was reported by Sliman and Khatib (19). An increase in total protein was also observed during RIF (20). Literature found contradictory findings regarding changes in lipid profile following RIF (6, 9, 21-25). RIF is known as a unique model of intermittent fasting (26). There is a tendency to intake foods that are rich in carbohydrate and lipids, particularly those which contain monoand poly-unsaturated fatty acids (27, 28). This change in the eating schedule along with changes in sleeping habits and physical activities bring a change in lifestyle with reduced durat ion of s leep at n ight (29). I t has been established that a given nutrient ingested at an unusual time can induce different metabolic effects (30). Many physiological and psychological changes take place during Ramadan, most probably due to the changes in eating patterns, eating frequency and disturbed sleep patterns (31). Although it is a matter of debate, but it is quite justified to speculate that there might be some alterations in the hematological parameters as well as in renal markers during the month of RIF. Literature is available in this context in Indian and overseas populations, but pertinent data is unavailable in Eastern Indian context. Moreover, hematological parameters and renal markers were not studied in the similar population, rather those were reported from different provinces of the country. The present study was aimed to investigate the impact of RIF on selective haematological parameters and blood renal markers in young Muslim males of Kolkata, India.