Ramadan fasting; effects on serum LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels

Coronary artery disease is leading cause of death in world. Relations of serum LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol is well established with this disease. Present study was planned to observe the effects of Ramadan fasting on serum LDL-c and HDL-c levels. A descriptive study. Healthy subjects selected from city of Hyderabad Sindh from 25[th] September to 10[th] November 2005. One hundred healthy subjects between ages of 30 to 65 years [mean 41.32 +/- 7.3] were selected for the study, their blood samples were collected one week before month of Ramadan, two weeks after start of Ramadan and in first week of Shawal month. Fasting samples were analysed for LDL-c and HDL-c by magnesium phosphotungstate precipitation and spin react kit method respectively on spectronic-21, spectrophotometer. When results were summed up and compared statistically LDL-c mid-Ramadan [3.93 +/- 0.34 mmol/L] and postRamadan [3.12 +/- 0.11 mmol/L] were significantly lower [p<0.05] than pre-Ramadan [5.35 +/- 0.46 mmol/L]. Whereas HDL-c levels of mid-Ramadan [1.63 +/- 0.36 mmol/L] and post-Ramadan [1.98 +/- 0.23 mmol/L] were significantly elevated [p<0.05] than pre-Ramadan [1.12 +/- 0.16 mmol/L]. Ramadan fasting is well tolerated and effective lipid lowering agent

Carbonated beverages induced hypercalciuria in young males

To assess the short-term effects of carbonated beverages on urinary calcium exertion in normal young males. Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from July 2003 to June 2004. Twenty-five normal male subjects of 20-40 years age and habitual users of carbonated beverages were selected for the study. Their fasting and post-beverage urine samples were collected and analyzed for calcium excretion levels. Significant increase in urinary calcium levels was observed in subjects consuming both caffeinated [P<0.001] and non-caffeinated [P<0.01] beverages. The excess calciuria is confined to males who are habitual consumers of both caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages. It is suggested that habitual use of beverages must be discouraged in order to prevent bone resorption and hence, an early osteoporosis