title: Effect of a 24-hour food-and-water fast on viscosity of whole blood and plasma.
abstract: As a result of abstaining from food and water for 24 h during the midsummer Tishah-b'Ab fast, blood viscosity increased by 16.5% in 27 subjects studied; plasma viscosity increased by 10.3% in nine; hematocrit, by 3.1% in 27; serum total protein, by 6.3% and albumin, by 7.7%, both in 29 subjects. These changes were statistically significant. Plasma fibrinogen did not increase significantly. Fasting-induced changes could impair blood supply to vital organs in patients with vascular insufficiency.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins