title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. elmigdadi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fayig
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El-Migdadi
authors.forename: Zeyad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: El-Akawi
authors.forename: Rola
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abudheese
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bashir
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone