Metabolic alterations during Ramadan fast

Some biochemical parameters in 12 young Muslim students who underwent fasting during the entire one month period of Ramadan were investigated. Them was a significant reduction in their body weight (72.5 ± 4.0 to 69.4 ± 3.0 kg) and blood glucose levels (99.6 ± 3.5 to 82.9 ± 7.3 mg/dl). Though the morning plasma cortisol fell (215.2 ± 22.1 to 105 ± 11.2 μg/l) and the evening plasma cortisol rose (58.4 ± 5.1 to 64.4 ± 4.8 μg/l) significantly there was no reversal of the circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion. A decline in the diastolic blood pressure (80 to 75 ± 6 of Hg) of these individuals though not significant was also noted. However, cholesterol (160.9 ± 12.8 to 178.2 ± 40.6 mg/dl) and HDL-Cholesterol (42.6 ± 2.2 to 48.1 ± 2.4 mg/dl) showed a tendency for increase. All the changed values were within the normal range.