title: The effect of ramadan fasting and physical activity on body composition, serum osmolarity levels and some parameters of electrolytes in females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  So far, there have been a few and incoherent results about the effects of physical activities. Fasting in Ramadan has an effect on the level of osmolarity and the concentration of serum electrolytes both in active and inactive females.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe the changes of serum electrolytes and osmolarity levels according to regular exercise during fasting.
  
  
  METHODS
  TWENTY TWO HEALTHY FEMALES WHO WERE ELECTED BY CONVENIENCE SAMPLING METHOD WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS: 1) fasting + exercise (FE; n = 11) and 2) fasting + non exercise (FNE; n = 15). The FE group participated in aerobic training for four sessions per week during the fasting. All measurements were done once before the first day, on the second week, on the fourth week and two weeks after fasting month and these measures were used to analyze test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE MEAN DIFFERENCES WERE AS FOLLOWS: significant weight loss, BMI, WHR, in two groups at the end of Ramadan (P < 0.05). The mean of weight, BMI, WHR, body fat, protein, mineral and total water showed no difference between groups (P > 0.05). Potassium, creatinine, urea and uric acid had been decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). Variance between groups was significant only in variable urea (P < 0.05). Variations within group had been changed in FBS; sodium, phosphorus and osmolarity levels were not changed significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this result, regular exercise in case of fasting in Ramadan led to some changes in serum osmolarity index, electrolytes and water. Therefore, it is important for female athletes to consider applying a suitable nutritious diet and sufficient water consumption during Ramadan.
authors.affiliation: Sport Physiology Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Reza
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Attarzadeh Hosseini
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sardar
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farahati
keywords: Fasting; Osmolar Concentration; Serum