Predicting serum gastrin levels among men during Ramadan fasting

Increased gastric acidity is common when fasting during Ramadan. Our study aimed to develop a regression equation to predict fasting serum gastrin levels using parameters commonly analysed in clinical laboratories. Fasting blood samples from six men were taken on days 1, 10, 19, 26 and 28 of Ramadan. Serum gastrin, total cholesterol, urea and uric acid were analysed. All 5 samples from each man were included in multiple regression analysis and the prediction equation obtained was: serum gastrin, pg/mL = 198.27-0.199 total cholesterol [mg/dL] + 2.525 urea [mg/dL]--103.238 uric acid [mg/dL] + 10.923 uric acid [mg/dL]2 + 3.683 body mass index, r2 = 0.75, P < 0.001. This equation might be used to estimate gastrin levels and plan dietary and medicinal measures to avoid high gastric acidity during Ramadan

Improved serum HDL cholesterol profile among Bangladeshi male students during Ramadan fasting

Effects of Ramadan fasting on serum lipids of 20 healthy males in Bangladesh were assessed. Anthropometric parameters and blood lipids were measured 1 day before Ramadan, day 26 of Ramadan and 1 month after Ramadan. Body weight and body mass index decreased significantly during Ramadan compared with before and after Ramadan. Fat intake was significantly higher during Ramadan than after. High-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol increased significantly during Ramadan. Other lipids were not significantly different. Regression analysis of Ramadan HDL cholesterol levels indicated positive association with pulse rate and fat intake and negative association with systolic blood pressure and weight loss. The findings indicate improved HDL cholesterol profiles during Ramadan