title: The effects of Ramadan fasting on endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial dysfunction, which can be manifested by loss of nitric oxide bioavailability, is an increasingly recognized cause of cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies showed that diets affect endothelial function and modify cardiovascular risks. This study aimed to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting, as a diet intervention, on endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 21 male patients (mean age: 52±9 years) with cardiovascular risks (coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial diseases). The biochemical variables in serum of patients were measured 2 days before and after Ramadan fasting. The levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nitric oxide (NO) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured by the Griess and thiobarbituric acid reaction substances assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NO levels in patients after Ramadan fasting were significantly higher compared with the baseline value (85.1±11.54 vs 75.8±10.7 μmol/l) (P<0.05). Post-Ramadan levels of ADMA decreased significantly in comparison with pre-Ramadan levels (802.6±60.9 vs 837.6±51.0 nmol/l) (P<0.05). In addition, the levels of VEGF and MDA changed during Ramadan fasting, but these changes were not statistically significant (228.1±27.1 vs 222.7±22.9 pg/ml and 3.2±0.7 vs 3.6±1.1 μmol/l, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ramadan fasting may have beneficial effects on endothelial function and can modulate cardiovascular risks. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: 1] Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran [2] Students' Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran [3] Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.affiliation: 1] Students' Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran [2] Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Faghfoori
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran [2] Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karami
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badalzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shafiei-Irannejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majidinia
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghavimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jabbarpour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine
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