title: Effects of fasting during Ramadan on cerebrovascular hemodynamics: A transcranial Doppler study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine whether Islamic fasting would change cerebral blood flow during Ramadan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 20 subjects (16 males and 4 females) on a regimen of 1 month food and water intake restriction, according to Islamic fasting ritual. Subjects were evaluated for cerebral bolo flow through a middle cerebral artery (MCA) by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD), the day before starting Ramadan fasting and the day after the month of Ramadan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed no statistically significant changes after Ramadan in cerebrovascular hemodynamic, in comparison before Ramadan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some studies showed metabolic changes during Ramadan fasting (increasing hematocrite, decreasing amount of hemoglobin, dehydration, platelet aggregation, and lipid profile alternations) the findings suggest that Islamic fasting has no significant effects on cerebral blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Akhoundi
authors.affiliation: Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center (FCRDC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rezaei
keywords: Blood Flow Velocity; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Fasting; Transcranial Doppler