Plain language summary
Ramadan fasting (RF) is a type of intermittent fasting and has been reported to have benefits on body composition, fatigue, mood and health related to quality of life (QOL) in healthy people. The aim of this study of 34 healthy men and women was to elucidate the mechanisms, in particular links between mood and QOL and the stress hormone cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is important for mental and cognitive function. The study compared a number of biochemical parameters before, in the middle and towards the end of the fast as well as 1 week and 1 months after RF. Patterns differed between men and women. Whilst women showed a significant increase in interleukin 8, an important mediator of the innate immune system, at the start of RF, it decreased toward the end of RF in men. Cortisol levels decreased after RF in both men and women, but more so in women, whilst BDNF decreased significantly in men but stayed the same in women. The authors conclude that the benefits of RF for mood are mediated by different biological mediators, particularly cortisol and BDNF.
Abstract
Ramadan fasting (RF) is a type of diurnal intermittent fasting. Previous studies reported the benefits of RF in healthy subjects on mood and health related to quality of life (QoL). Cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been shown to play a role in mood, body composition parameters, and health-related QoL. This study aimed at elucidating the mechanism of the benefit of RF, particularly cortisol and BNDF and their association with mood and QoL. Insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin (IL)-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and myoglobin were determined. Thirty-four healthy men and women were recruited. Serum from peripheral venous blood samples was collected at five time points: 1 week before RF (T1); mid of RF (T2), last days of RF (T3), 1 week after RF (T4), and 1 month after RF (T5). The amounts of biological mediators in the serum samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Luminex assays. BDNF and cortisol significantly decreased at T3 (p < 0.05) and T4 (p < 0.001) compared to T1, respectively. It seems the benefits of RF for mood-related symptoms are mediated by different biological mediators, particularly cortisol and BDNF.
Lifestyle medicine
Functional Laboratory Testing
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Blood
Methodological quality
Jadad score
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Not applicable
Allocation concealment
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Not applicable
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