RESUMEN
Introduction: Fasting during Ramadan plus changes in sleep schedule effects the pattern of different hormone secretions
Objective: This study was done to determine the effect of fasting on thyroid hormone secretion and in case of satisfactory changes, fasting might be used to promote the function of thyroid gland and in case of unsatisfactory effect, at risk patients may be prohibited from fasting
Materials and Methods: Fifty-two single male students aging 18- 24 years who had at least a daily abstinence of 12 hours during Ramadan voluntarily participated in the study. Four samples of blood were taken from them: the first sample [Control] was taken two day before Ramadan and the other three samples [experimental cases] were taken at 4 pm on the tenth, twentieth and twenty- eighth of Ramadan. Besides the students had the same diet. Their weight was measured during the experiment days. Concentration of T[4], T[3] and TSH were measured by means of "Elisa" device. Then the results were analyzed through ANOVA intra - group method
Results: The assessment of the results revealed that the serum of T[4] increased in the last days of Ramadan [P <0.01]. But no changes occurred in serum of T[3] and TSH in men as compared to before Ramadan. Also during Ramadan there was a significant decrease in body weight in every subject
Conclusion: Overall the study showed that all changes in secretion of thyroid hormones in men during Islamic Fasting month are physiologic and causes no pathologic changes
RESUMEN
To determine the effects of Ramadan fasting on the secretion of sex hormones in single healthy males, we measured blood hormone levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone [LH] and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] in 52 single male students aged 18-24 years who were fasting for >/= 12 hours during Ramadan. Four blood samples were taken from each, one 2 days before and the others on 10, 20 and 28 Ramadan. Testosterone level was lower, significantly so for the 20th and 28th of the month [P < 0.05]; FSH was increased, significantly for the 20th [P < 0.05]; LH did not change significantly