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Does Ramadan Fasting Alter Body Weight and Blood Lipids and Fasting Blood Glucose in a Healthy Population? A Meta-analysis

Journal of Religion and Health volume 53, pages 929–942 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of self-controlled cohort studies comparing body weights, blood levels of lipids and fasting blood glucose levels before and after Ramadan taking into account gender differences. Several databases were searched up to June 2012 for studies showing an effect of Ramadan fasting in healthy subjects, yielding 30 articles. The primary finding of this meta-analysis was that after Ramadan fasting, low-density lipoprotein (SMD = −1.67, 95 % CI = −2.48 to −0.86) and fasting blood glucose levels (SMD = −1.10, 95 % CI = −1.62 to −0.58) were decreased in both sex groups and also in the entire group compared to levels prior to Ramadan. In addition, in the female subgroup, body weight (SMD = −0.04, 95 % CI = −0.20, 0.12), total cholesterol (SMD = 0.05, 95 % CI = −0.51 to 0.60), and triglyceride levels (SMD = 0.03, 95 % CI = −0.31, 0.36) remained unchanged, while HDL levels (SMD = 0.86, 95 % CI = 0.11 to 1.61, p = 0.03) were increased. In males, Ramadan fasting resulted in weight loss (SMD = −0.24, 95 % CI = −0.36, −0.12, p = 0.001). Also, a substantial reduction in total cholesterol (SMD = −0.44, 95 % CI = −0.77 to −0.11) and LDL levels (SMD = −2.22, 95 % CI = −3.47 to −0.96) and a small decrease in triglyceride levels (SMD = −0.35, 95 % CI = −0.67 to −0.02) were observed in males. In conclusion, by looking at this data, it is evident that Ramadan fasting can effectively change body weight and some biochemical parameters in healthy subjects especially in males compared to pre-Ramadan period.

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Abbreviations

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

RFR:

Ramadan fasting

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

SMD:

Standardized weighted mean difference

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Seval Kul

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Subdivision of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Esen Savaş

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Subdivision of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Zeynel Abidin Öztürk

  4. Department of Publich Health-Nursing School, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Gülendam Karadağ

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  1. Seval Kul
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  2. Esen Savaş
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Correspondence to Esen Savaş.

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Kul, S., Savaş, E., Öztürk, Z.A. et al. Does Ramadan Fasting Alter Body Weight and Blood Lipids and Fasting Blood Glucose in a Healthy Population? A Meta-analysis. J Relig Health 53, 929–942 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9687-0

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