EFFECT OF ISLAMIC FASTING ON LIPID PROFILE, TOTAL PROTEIN AND ALBUMIN ON HEALTHY MUSLIM MALE SUBJECTS OF SHRI RAM MURTI SMARAK INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, BAREILLY, UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

Introduction: Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Starvation and fasting are not synonymous. Many studies have being carried out in starvation with respect to its effect on human health but very few studies have being done on Ramadan fasting and its effects. We carried out this study to observe the effect of Islamic fasting on the metabolism of human body.

Methodology: We estimated certain parameters which were Lipid profile tests, Total protein and albumin in human serum in addition to estimation of anthropometric parameter like body weight & blood pressure. The subjects were Muslim male students and staff of age group 20-30yrs, comprising 30 in number and were free of any medication and disease. The blood was taken on four occasions – one week before Ramadan, 14^th Ramadan, 26^th Ramadan and 21 days after Ramadan.

Results: There was significant decrease in body weight, Triglyceride & LDL, no significant decrease in total cholesterol. Significant decrease in total protein & albumin in the initial two weeks of fasting which slightly increased in the last week. The systolic blood pressure decreased significantly but there was no significant change in diastolic blood pressure. The HDL level was increased significantly by 26^th Ramadan.

Conclusion: We conclude that Ramadan fasting causes no detrimental effect on health in healthy subjects. In fact it may cause improvement particularly on lipid metabolism.