Marked increase in plasma high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol after prolonged fasting during Ramadan.
We evaluated the effect of the Ramadan fasting on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in normal individuals. Twenty-four healthy subjects were studied before the end of the Ramadan month (Ram) and for 1 mo thereafter. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) did not change. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was 30% higher (P < 0.005) at the end of Ram; apolipoprotein A-I also increased (P < 0.0001). Both the ratios of TC to HDL-C and LDL-C to HDL-C (P < 0.001) decreased at Ram. There was a striking nonpharmacologic improvement in plasma HDL-C and ratios of TC to HDL-C and LDL-C to HDL-C, which were most probably induced by eating one large evening meal a day. Further studies to determine the mechanism of this observation are underway.
Maislos
M
M
Department of Medicine, Tour Institute, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Khamaysi
N
N
Assali
A
A
Abou-Rabiah
Y
Y
Zvili
I
I
Shany
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol