ABSTRACT
Over a billion Muslims fast worldwide during Ramadan each year. This religious practice, contributes to their health as well as their spiritual growth. However, available evidence regarding the health benefits of Ramadan fasting is scarce and highly contentious. Although Islam exempts patients from fasting, many conceivably fast, and their clinical condition is prone to deteriorate due to persistent gap between current expert knowledge and conclusive strong evidence regarding the pathophysiologic and metabolic alterations of fasting. In this article, we summarize the results of initial studies regarding the effects of Ramadan fasting on some clinical conditions, alterations of body composition and clinically important outcomes of patients with previous history of cardiovascular disease, asthma or renal colic disease. Our studies have shed light on several outcomes in favor of Ramadan fasting, and encourage those afflicted to consult their physicians and follow medical and scientific recommendations. In this review we aimed to present relevant evidence, clarify future scope and provide suggestions for future investigations
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on the level of sex hormones in girls between 9-13 years before age at menarche. This study was conducted on a sample of 58 subjects [age range: 9-13 years], who were divided into two groups of fasting [N=31] and non-fasting [N=27]. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], progesterone and estradiol were measured in all the subjects before and after Ramadan. Measurements were carried out three days before the start of Ramadan, and one day afterwards. In this study, FSH levels significantly increased in the non-fasting group [P=0.01], and the level of Dehydroepiandrostenedione [DHEA] had a significant decrease during the time of study in both groups [P=0.001, P=0.006]. In addition, serum levels of LH significantly increased in the non-fasting group after Ramadan [P=0.006], and estradiol significantly increased in both groups [P=0.008, P=0.004]. Given the similar changes in the levels of DHEA, progesterone and estradiol in both study groups, it could be concluded that fasting has no effects on these parameters, and the changes in LH and FSH levels could be due to other contributing factors
ABSTRACT
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a religious rituals of all healthy adult Muslims. However, there is no clear agreement on the effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular disease. Comorbidities and factors such as age, gender, health status, daily duration of fasting, food intake before and after fasting may impact on a fasting individual's cardiometabolic risk. This review was undertaken to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on: the incidence of cardiovascular disease during the month of Ramadan; the clinical status of patients with stable cardiac disease; and any alterations in cardiometabolic risk profile. A systematic search was undertaken for studies that investigated the impact of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular outcomes and risk factors. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Knowledge were searched from 1982 up to 2014. The incidence of acute cardiac illness during Ramadan fasting was similar when compared to non-fasting days. Ramadan fasting is associated with elevations in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], and reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c] and total cholesterol [T-chol]. However, the lipid profile of diabetic patients deteriorated significantly during Ramadan fasting. In addition, Ramadan fasting lowers body weight, body fat percentage and BMI [body mass index]. However, the relationship between weight reduction and loss of body fat is not studied. The majority of patients with stable cardiac illness can opt for Ramadan fasting safely. However, the long term effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular outcomes and risk factors remains uncertain, and the apparent discordant effects in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus merits further study
ABSTRACT
Carotid ultrasound appears to be useful in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. In this study, we have assessed the carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT] in a group of individuals without a history of cardiovascular events. A sample of 431subjects [189 [43.9%] males and 242 [56.1%] females] was obtained from an urban population using a stratified-cluster method in Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerosis disorder study. None of the subjects had a history of the cardiovascular event. Carotid artery duplex ultrasound was used to determine the CIMT in all subjects, and to identify those with an abnormal value [CIMT [+]; i.e., CIMT >/= 0.8 mm]. Dietary intake of participants was assessed using a questionnaire for 24-h dietary recall. The relationship between anthropometric, biochemical and dietary data and CIMT were assessed. The mean age of subjects was 48.7 +/- 8.0 years. Of the 431 patients, 118 [27.4%] were found to be CIMT [+]. Of the cardiovascular parameters assessed, only age [odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval [CI]], 1.11 [0.56-4.34]; P < 0.01] and male gender [OR [95% CI], 1.14 [0.63-2.23]; P < 0.05] were significant independent predictors of ultrasound defined CIMT. Crude and total energy adjusted intake were not associated with the presence of CIMT [+]. It appears that within a relatively young Iranian population of individuals without a history of cardiovascular event, the presence of CIMT [+] defined by duplex ultrasound cut-off value of >/= 0.8 mm, did not associate with several modifiable cardiovascular risk factors or measures of dietary intake
ABSTRACT
Ramadan fasting is prescribed by Quran for every able?bodied, adult Muslim and is considered an obligatory act of worship. During Ramadan, the majority of Muslims eat two major meals? one before dawn [Sahar] and another immediately after the sunset [Iftar]. Islamic fasting, due to its particular nature, may cause metabolic and hormonal changes in the body, which are different from those in regular fasting. To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been conducted on changes in growth parameters during fasting periods. Therefore, the aim of this review, which is based on scientific literature review, was to describe the effects of fasting on growth parameters in humans
ABSTRACT
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a religious obligation, practiced by millions of people around the world. Ramadan fasting is essentially a fundamental change in lifestyle for one lunar month. This type of fasting may have significant effects on lipid profile. Although there is no scientific consensus about the effects of fasting on cardiovascular risks such as changes in lipid profile, some studies have revealed the positive effects of Ramadan fasting [and similar religious fasting] on lipid profile and cardiovascular diseases [CVDs] such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. These effects may be related to factors such as different fasting durations [season-dependent], diets, and physical activities during Ramadan. An overall improvement in cardiovascular risk profile is noted during Ramadan fasting. Majority of studies have reported an increment in high-density lipoprotein [HDL] level, decreased triglyceride level, and no change or decline in total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein [LDL] levels. Therefore, given the lack of comprehensive literature in this field, we reviewed some related studies in order to describe the impact of Ramadan fasting on lipid profile. It can be inferred that Ramadan fasting alters lipid profile by improving HDLcholesterol and reducing LDL-cholesterol in some cases. However, changes in triglyceride and total cholesterol during Ramadan are not uniform or similar. Moreover, Ramadan fasting is not associated with any changes in the prevalence of CVD or frequency of hospitalization
ABSTRACT
Glutaric academia type I is a metabolic disorder that is caused due to deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Macrocephaly is a common sign in GA1, although many infants usually appear healthy at birth. A 5.5 year old boy with GA1 was admitted to NICU. Chief compliance of patient for hospitalization was pneumonia and sepsis and he was intubated and mechanically ventilated. This disease was diagnosed with signs of set developmental delay at 8 months old and during these years; he was under control for nutritional counseling with a nutritionist and pediatrician. Nutritional support for this patient was in NICU. Medical treatment combined with nutritional support in GA1 management signs of serious illness; also dietary treatment may control progression of the neurological damage
ABSTRACT
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups to sub-optimal nutritional intake in most societies. We have investigated some of the potential determinants of malnutrition in children of 2-5 years of age. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the relationship between nutritional status [weight for age, height for age and weight for height] and dietary and socioeconomic factors in 671 children [24-59 months of age] from selected health centers in Mashhad city, Iran. Children were assessed for weight and height and the care givers were interviewed and a questionnaire was completed by the interviewers. The data were analyzed using SPSS13 software and the Z-scores were calculated using the WHO anthropometric software package. The study showed that 24.4% of children were mildly underweight, 4.3% were underweight, 13% were mildly stunted, 23.6% of children were mildly wasted and 3.1% were stunted. Educational attainment, whether the children had been breast feed, average daily consumption of milk, feeding practices and type of first food were found to be the main factors determining nutritional status in our study. A higher daily consumption of milk, lower age at which first solid food was started; lower age for consumption of meat and good feeding practices may resolve malnutrition in this population. These findings support the need for a family-based prevention program that focus on guiding parents to foster appropriate feeding practices as well as to promote healthy food intake in the children. Future research should determine the cost-effectiveness of both short- and long-term interventions for child malnutrition
ABSTRACT
The autism spectrum disorders [ASD] are amongst the most heritable complex disorders. Although there have been many efforts to locate the genes associated with ASD risk, many has been remained to be disclosed about the genetics of ASD. Scrutiny's have only disclosed a small number of de novo and inherited variants significantly associated with susceptibility to ASD. These only comprise a small number of total genetic risk factors. Some studies confirm the contribution of mitochondrial genome mutations to the pathophysiology of the autism, but some other studies rejected such a contribution. In the current study we tried to scrutinize the association between mitochondrial tRNA genes mutations and the risk of Autism. DNA was extracted from the blood of 24 patients with ASD and 40 age-matched healthy controls from Special Medical Center in Tehran. 22 tRNA genes of mitochondrial genome were PCR amplified using 12 primer pairs and sequenced. Sequencing results were searched for mutations using clustalW Progran and then the association of mutations with the autism risk was assessed by statistical analysis using SPSS version 15. Many of the observed mutations were sporadic mutations without any significant relationship with the risk of autism, and the other mutations including those of high frequency showed no significant relationship with the risk of disease as well [P>0.05] except mutations 16126T>C [P=0.01], 14569G>A[P=0.02] and 1811A>G[P=0.04]. These three mutations were in the noncoding regions of the mitochondrial genome near tRNA genes. The mutation 16126T>C was in the mtDNA control region. Our study showed a significant relationship between the point mutations 16126T>C, 14569G>A and 1811A>G of the mitochondrial genome and the risk of autism