Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in people living in an environment below sea level (Jordan Valley) during fasting in the month of Ramadan.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol in athletic students living in the Jordan Valley (JV) and compare them to those living at above sea level in Ramtha City (RC).


METHODS
Sample collection and measurements were done in November 1998 from non-fasting and in December 1998 from fasting people.


RESULTS
ACTH levels in non-fasting subjects in the JV were 36 +/- 4 IU/ml compared to 43 +/- 3 IU/ml for those in RC. Cortisol levels were 483 +/- 76 (JV) and 539 +/- 89 nmol/l (RC). Fasting led to an increase in ACTH (49 +/- 6 (JV) and 58 +/- 5 IU/ml (RC)) and cortisol levels (637 +/- 101 (JV) and 805 +/- 72 nmol/l (RC)).


CONCLUSIONS
Fasting increases ACTH and cortisol levels in an altitude-independent fashion.
El-Migdadi
Fayig
F
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. elmigdadi@yahoo.com
El-Akawi
Zeyad
Z
Abudheese
Rola
R
Bashir
Nabil
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D004777:Environment; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone