Blood glucose and lipid profile levels in ramadan

Abstract EN

The sequence of alterations in the concentrations of blood glucose and the compositions of different serum lipids following fasting in Ramadan is not known We therefore monitored the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as well as blood glucose.

Fasting blood samples were taken from 50 healthy volunteers at the beginning, during Ramadan and then 30 days following Ramadan.

Blood analysis was determined for glucose and lipid profile.

Results showed non-significant increase in the levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C during the first 9 days of fasting in Ramadan.

This was followed by a decrease in their concentration after 18 days of fast, which tends to rise progressively by the end of Ramadan reaching their initial values 30 days later.

No changes were found in VLDL-C throughout the study.

HDL-C concentration showed a gradual and highly significant decrease (P< 0.001) in its value from start to the end of Ramadan reaching near initial values 30 days following Ramadan.

Blood glucose level remains unchanged during the 18 days of fasting in Ramadan, but later showed a progressive decrease towards the end of Ramadan that remains even after 30 days.

These changes although unlikely would affect normal people, may be significant in hyperlipidemia patients.

Physicians working in Muslim countries should be aware that fasting in Ramadan might influence some laboratory findings.