title: Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Glucose Homeostasis, Lipid Profiles, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Kashan, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To our knowledge, no reports are available indicating the effects of Ramadan fasting on metabolic parameters, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on metabolic status among women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted on twenty seven PCOS patients who had fasted for a mean period of 16.5 hours a day during the 29 days of the month of Ramadan in Kashan, Iran. Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after 29 days of the study to quantify related variables. To identify within-group differences (before and after Ramadan), paired-samples t-tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels in PCOS women after Ramadan fasting were significantly higher compared to the baseline values (70.63 ± 15.78 vs. 59.94 ± 13.87 μmol/L, P = 0.003). Post-Ramadan levels of plasma glutathione (GSH) increased significantly in comparison with pre-Ramadan (974.95 ± 414.20 vs. 746.96 ± 205.93 μmol/L, P = 0.011). In addition, a trend toward a significant effect of Ramadan fasting on reducing serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations (2001.07 ± 1686.08 vs. 2962.72 ± 2845.21 ng/mL, P = 0.072) was seen. We did not observe any significant effect of Ramadan fasting on glucose hemostasis parameters, lipid profiles or total antioxidant capacity (TAC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, Ramadan fasting in women with PCOS for 4 weeks had beneficial effects on NO and GSH levels, but did not affect glucose hemostasis parameters, lipid profiles or TAC.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghizadeh
authors.affiliation: 3)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 4)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 5)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritunal Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaillzadeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D007492:Iran; D007514:Islam; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005978:Glutathione