Health Benefits of Islamic Intermittent Fasting

Health Benefits of Islamic Intermittent Fasting Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen1*, Abdurazak Jumale2, Jamil I.H. Alatrash2, Asali Ahamed Abdul Sukkur3 1. 2. 3. Pharmacologist, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE Senior Specialist Registrar, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE Senior Pharmacist, Ambulatory Healthcare Services – SEHA, Alain, UAE ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT Article type: Original article Introduction: Islamic fasting is observed by millions of Muslims across the world during the holy month of Ramadan and other specific days of the lunar year. Fasting Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. Depending on season and geographical location, Muslims maintain fasting for approximately 13-18 hours per day. The present study aimed to review the benefits of Islamic fasting. Methods: This literature review was conducted via searching in databases like Medline, PubMed, PMC, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and reference lists of relevant articles using keywords like health benefits, Islamic fasting, intermittent fasting, alternate-day fasting, time-restricted feeding, and Ramadan intermittent fasting. Results: Islamic fasting could be considered as intermittent fasting as it is similar to alternate-day fasting and time-restricted feeding. Intermittent fasting is associated with numerous health benefits. Conclusion: According to this review, some of the main health benefits of Islamic fasting include weight loss, attenuation of metabolic markers (e.g., insulin resistance, blood glucose, and blood pressure), improved lipid profile, prevention of chronic problems (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer), protection against neurodegeneration, and diminished inflammation. Article History: Received: 18 Mar 2018 Accepted: 13 Jun 2018 Published: 29 Jun 2018 Keywords: Alternate-day fasting Health benefits Intermittent fasting Islamic fasting Ramadan fasting Time-restricted feeding Please cite this paper as: Pakkir Maideen NM, Jumale A, I.H. Alatrash J, Ahamed Abdul Sukkur A. Health Benefits of Islamic Intermittent Fasting. J Fasting Health. 2017; 5(4): 162-171. Doi: 10.22038/jnfh.2018.30667.1111 Introduction Islam has five pillars including faith, prayers, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage (1). According to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic fasting is a shield to protect believers against sins and lustful desires. Muslims who practice Islamic fasting abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse from Sahur (predawn meal) to Iftar (sunset meal). The believers of Islam, practice fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and other specific days of the lunar year as an obligatory task (2). Islamic fasting is associated with some health discomforts, like headaches, heartburn, constipation, dehydration, anemia, and poor sleep quality (2). Therefore, fasting Muslims are recommended to follow preventive measures in order to minimize the adverse effects of fasting. These individuals must adhere to a balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables, pulses, whole grains, meat, fish, and dairies. In addition, they need to drink fluids abundantly, such as water, fresh juices, and soups, during the interval between Iftar and Sahur. Fasting Muslims are advised to avoid deep-fried foods , sweets, fatty foods, refined carbohydrates, salty foods, and caffeinated and carbonated drinks (2). Intermittent Fasting Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary pattern, in which the fasting and feasting periods occur in a cycle (3). IF may include alternate -day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF). ADF consists of 24 hours of fasting and 24 hours * Corresponding author: Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +97142164952; Fax: +97142244302; Email: © 2017 mums.ac.ir All rights reserved. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Health Benefits of Islamic Fasting of feasting (4). In this regard, Islamic fasting is similar to ADF since the feasting and fasting periods in Islamic fasting range between 12-18 hours on average depending on the season and geographical area (5). TRF is a type of IF, in which the individual intakes a whole day of calories within approximately eight hours, while spending the remaining hours fasting (6). Islamic fasting is also similar to TRF since the believers of Islam fast from sunrise to sunset and feast only at night (approximately eight hours). Therefore, Islamic fasting could be considered as intermittent fasting as it is similar to ADF and TRF. The present study aimed to review the health benefits of Islamic fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. Material and methods This literature review was conducted via searching in databases such as Medline, PubMed, PMC, ScienceDirect, Google scholar, and reference lists of relevant articles using keywords such as health benefits, Islamic fasting, intermittent fasting, alternate-day fasting, time-restricted feeding, and Ramadan intermittent fasting. Results Islamic IF has been associated with several metabolic health benefits, including weight loss, Pakkir Maideen NM et al reduced insulin resistance, decreased blood glucose, reduced blood pressure, and improved lipid profile (Table 1). Moreover, Islamic IF results in the cardiac protection, prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cancer, protection against neurodegeneration, reduction of inflammation, promotion of health span, and extension of lifespan (Table 2). Discussion Metabolic Health Benefits Insulin resistance, obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) characterize metabolic syndrome (7). Metabolic syndrome is primarily caused by insulin resistance and obesity and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes type II , coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, vascular dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver disease, cholesterol gallstones, asthma, sleep disturbances, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer (8-12). IF consisting of ADF, TRF and Ramadan fasting exerts positive effects on metabolic markers (13). Ramadan IF has been reported to decrease body weight and body mass index (BMI) and improve insulin sensitivity through reducing the levels of fasting glucose and insulin (14). In healthy individuals adhering to ADF, glucose and leptin levels decrease, and adiponectin levels increase (15). In addition, IF Table 1. Metabolic Health Benefits of Islamic Intermittent Fasting Health Benefit Author(s) Proposed Mechanisms Ziaee V et al. (26), Fedail SS et al. (27), and Hallak Reduced energy intake MH et al. (28) Rohin MA et al. (29) Reduction of total body fluids Altered serum levels of leptin, insulin, and cortisol due to chan (...truncated)