Original Article EFFECTS OF RAMADAN FASTING ON BLOOD LIPIDS AND SUGAR

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on lipid profile and blood sugar. Setting: Adan Hospital Kuwait Subjects and Methods: The study was performed on 60 healthy adult volunteers and was carried out in the month of Ramadan (October November 2003). Each volunteer had observed fasting for an average 12 hours a day. Blood samples were obtained from them on the 1st and 4th week of Ramadan and were analyzed for total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc], very low density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDLc], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc], Triglyceride [TG] and blood sugar. Results: The LDLc was significantly reduced at the end of fasting (P< 0.005). A reduction in the average TC value was observed at the end of fasting but the difference was not statistically significant (P<0.16). There was a non-significant rise in the HDLc, TG, VLDLc and blood sugar valu