ABSTRACT
Effects of a Muslim-like fasting scheme on blood glucose and liver glycogen was determined in rats. The fasting scheme consisted of periodic [12h] simultaneous food and water deprivation during the night, with free access to them in the day, for 1, 3, 10 or 21 days. Totally fasting rats showed lower fasting blood sugar than control rats [deprived of food only]. Glucose levels in totally fasting rats decreased as fasting days increased, they were 5.2 +/- 0.3, 5.05 +/- 0.2, 4.2 +/- 0.1 and 3.95 +/- 0.2 mmol/1 in 1, 3, 10 and 21 days of periodic total fasting. The glucose levels 4 hours after food in totally fasting rats were significantly higher than their matched fasting levels p = 0.05. It decreased as fasting days increased r=0.9, p=0.057. Totally fasting rats showed 65.4% lower glycogen levels than normally fed rats. The glycogen levels 4 hours after food in totally fasting rats were 53, 112, 66.2 and 192% higher than their matched fasting levels on days 1, 3, 10 and 21 of periodic total fasting. It was concluded that periodic total fasting modulates the blood glucose level and hepatic glycogen. The magnitude of the effects depends on the number of fasting days. This could have practical implications in patients with impaired carbohydrate metabolism