Effect of fasting on voice in males.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to study how fasting between 12 and 14 hours affects voice production.


METHODS
This is a prospective study of male subjects.


METHODS
A total of 26 healthy male subjects were recruited for the study. The age varied between 22 and 50 years with a mean of 28 years. Exclusion criteria included hoarseness at the time of presentation, history of recent upper respiratory tract infection, or microlaryngeal surgery. Subjects were evaluated while fasting and nonfasting. Each subject was asked about vocal fatigue and ease of phonation. This was followed by acoustic analyses and laryngeal videostroboscopy.


RESULTS
The incidence of vocal fatigue was not higher while fasting compared to nonfasting (P = 1.00). Phonatory effort was significantly greater during fasting (P < .001). Fifty percent of the subjects had an increase in their phonatory effort. There was a significant decrease in the habitual pitch, voice turbulence index, and noise-to-harmonic ratio (P = .018, .045, and .001, respectively). There were no laryngeal videostroboscopic changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Fasting in males results in an increase in phonatory effort. These phonatory changes may be secondary to dehydration as well as overall neuromuscular fatigability.
Hamdan
Abdul-Latif
AL
Department of Otolaryngology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon. alhamdan@svclb.com
Ashkar
Jihad
J
Sibai
Abla
A
Oubari
Dima
D
Husseini
Sami Tanbouzi
ST
D000328:Adult; D003681:Dehydration / Q000150:complications; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult