A prospective controlled study on Ramadan fasting in the healthy young males in summer in Germany: effect on cytokines

Abstract

Abstract Short communication During the Ramadan fasting (RF) month, participants restrict some activities during day time, particularly consumption of food and beverages. In Germany, Muslims fast about 18–19 h a day when Ramadan falls in the summer. This longer period of restriction could lead to the changes of the body physiology, anthropometric parameters and biological mediators. Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-1β. IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) during RF in Germany. Correlations of cytokines with anthropometric parameters were also determined. Methods Fifty healthy adult males were recruited and divided into two equal groups: fasting group (FG) and non-fasting group (NFG). FG was evaluated at T1: one week before, T2: mid-, T3: last days of, and T4: one week after Ramadan. The NFG were evaluated only at T1 and T3. Results In FG significant alterations of IL-1β was observed. Insignificant differences were found between the FG and NFG at T1 and T3 concerning the measured cytokines. Circulating IL-1β increased significantly from T2 to T4 and from T3 to T4. At T3, TNF-α was correlated significantly with anthropometric parameters such as the body weight, the skeletal muscle mass and the fat free mass, whilst IL-12 was correlated significantly with the skeletal muscle mass, the fat free mass and the body water mass at T4. Conclusions Significant Alterations of IL-1β during RF in FG were observed. Anthropometric parameters correlate with TNF-α and IL-12 levels during at T3 and T4, respectively.