title: The effect of fasting on total serum bilirubin concentrations.
abstract: Thirty-seven healthy volunteers, 19 of whom had consistently elevated total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentrations, took part in an open, randomised cross-over study to determine the effect of fasting on TSB concentrations. The study comprised of two treatments. During one treatment period volunteers ate a standard supper but fasted for 24 h thereafter. During the other treatment period volunteers ate a standard supper, snacks, breakfast and lunch. TSB concentrations were measured at regular intervals. In both the normal and high bilirubin groups, minimum TSB values were recorded 4 h after the supper. A 24 h fast more than doubled TSB concentration from baseline values in both the normal and high bilirubin groups. A clinically relevant rise in TSB took place after 12 h into the fasting period (TSB of 17.3 mumol l-1 in the fasted group vs 14.0 mumol l-1 in the non-fasted group). When designing a clinical trial, selecting volunteers, or judging the tolerance of a new drug, the rise in TSB caused by fasting must therefore be taken into account, particularly in trials where volunteers or patients fast before entering the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schall
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hundt
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Maree
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin