title: Gorging and plasma HDL-cholesterol--the Ramadan model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a single evening meal (gorging) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in normal individuals observing the Ramadan Fast. During the Ramadan month, Muslims refrain from food and liquids during the day and eat a large meal after sundown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sequential measurement of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in Muslims observing the Ramadan Fast and non-fasting individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the Bedouin town of Rahat, in the northern Negev area of Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two healthy subjects who fasted during Ramadan and 16 non-fasting laboratory workers, were studied before Ramadan, at week 1, 2 and 4 of the Ramadan month, and again four weeks after the end of Ramadan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) rose significantly (P < 0.001) at the week 4 measurement, returning to basal levels 4 weeks after the end of Ramadan. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma HDL increased by 23% after four weeks of gorging. The dietary change did not affect the composition of other lipoproteins, such as LDL, VLDL or Lp(a), other plasma biochemical parameters, or BMI. Prolonged gorging, well tolerated by all individuals, is a very effective non-pharmacological method to increase plasma HDL-cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Toor Institute, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maislos
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abou-Rabiah
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zuili
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iordash
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D007557:Israel; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol