title: Effects of Ramadan fasting on biochemical and hematological parameters and cytokines in healthy and obese individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The typical nutritional plan in Ramadan may have beneficial influences on the inflammatory state, as well as on metabolic and anthropometric parameters. We aimed to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on biochemical and hematological parameters and cytokines in healthy and obese individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed during the Ramadan holy month (September and October 2007). The study group consisted of 10 obese males and the control group consisted of 10 males with a normal body mass index (BMI), who were admitted to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Dicle University Medical Faculty in Diyarbakir, Turkey, and who indicated that they were going to fast throughout the entire month of Ramadan. Individuals with any acute or chronic disease or medication during the study were excluded. Height, weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences were measured. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), urea, creatinine, insulin, total protein, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and cytokine levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the participants was 27.4 ± 5.2 years. Of the study group, 7 fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. Significant weight reduction, significant decrease in BMI, and significant decrease of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were observed in study group; weight and BMI reduction were insignificant and no significant change was observed in FBG levels, but a significant increase was observed in HOMA-IR in the control group. Post-Ramadan systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, serum white blood cells (WBC) count, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, TG, and ALT levels were significantly lower in both groups compared to pre-Ramadan values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ramadan fasting has beneficial influences on the inflammatory state, as well as metabolic and anthropometric parameters.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey. drunalacak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unalacak
authors.forename: Ismail Hamdi
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Davut
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baltaci
authors.forename: Ozgür
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: P Gamze Erten
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Bucaktepe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012067:Religion; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C425772:poly(lactic acid) depolymerase