Objective: The effects of Ramadan fasting, with low fat and low calorie diet, on blood lipid and lipoprotein levels were studied. Results revealed reduction of plasma lipid levels and anthropometric parameters in the hyperlipidemic cases. To find out whether such reductions were due to nutritional diet or Ramadan fasting, we conducted a study to evaluate effects of Ramadan fasting on 2 separate hyperlipidemic groups with or without nutritional diet regimen.
Methods: This study was carried out at Madani Heart Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, during the year 1998. Thirty-eight hyperlipidemic healthy men voluntarily enrolled into 2 groups, group I, 22 men on low fat and low calorie diet and group II, 16 men without any special diet interference. The blood lipid profile tests were measured 4 times (3 weeks before, first week, last week and one month after Ramadan). To evaluate nutritional composition, 12 times in non-successive days, 24 hour nutrition recalls were obtained from all individuals during the study.
Results: Analysis of data revealed that only triglyceride in both groups reduced in the beginning of Ramadan compared to 3 weeks before. During Ramadan, with a reduction of 300 Kcal/day in comparison to before Ramadan, no changes were seen concerning anthropometric parameters and serum lipids levels.
Conclusion: It seems that the effect of Ramadan fasting on serum lipid levels may be closely related to the nutritional diet. For reduction of plasma lipid levels, it would be necessary to omit at least one term meal or reduce energy by 500 Kcal or more per day.