Abstract
Background: Physicians in Islamic countries believe that fasting in Ramadan is equal to ingestion of thirty pills regularly ingested every year for clearing the blood and fortifying the tissues. The effects of Islamic fasting on physiologic functions in normal conditions have been considered in different studies and different topics. This study was to determine the quantitative changes of hemoglobin, hematocrit and certain serum biochemical parameters during Ramadan fasting in apparently healthy Muslim college students.
Methods: Sixty-two students were followed in five stages: one week before, 3rd, 15th and 28th day of Ramadan and ten days after Ramadan, by proper blood sampling in suitable time of day.
Results: The findings showed a significant decrease in hemoglobin, glucose and uric acid on days 3 and 15 of Ramadan (P< 05), a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose on day 28 of Ramadan and a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen and high –density lipoprotein cholesterol on day 28 of Ramadan (P< 05)
Conclusion: Changes in biochemical and hematological parameters of blood during Ramadan fasting are very important and the Islamic countries physicians should be informed about these beneficial effects of fasting. It seems that more researches are required for evaluating these effects in various physiologic and pathologic conditions and there are yet many unanswered questions in this relation. We believe that one of the physician responsibilities about patients is guiding and helping them for doing the religious duties in disease conditions because this has a great effect on recovery of patient. This consideration makes strong the physician-patient relationship.