Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Ramadan fasting is one of the pillaris of islam. The fasting time is about 12-19 hours depending on the season in which Ramadan falls and the geographic position of the country. It is often a subject of discussion nether or not Ramadan fasting confer any harmful effect on the body.
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on some clinical, biochemical and Immunological aspects of the healthy and type two Diabetes mellitus patients.
METHODS:
The study was performed on (30) healthy fasting and (30) patients with type two diabetes mellitus in the month of Ramadan (2005). Blood samples were obtained on the second and fourth week's of Ramadan and were analyzed for fasting blood sugar, urea, uric acid, lipid profile, Immunoglobulins and complement component concentration, in addition, lymphocyte was separated to study the lymphocyte transformation assay in vitro compared with healthy non-fasting.
RESULTS:
There was slight elevation in the HDL-C, B. urea, S. Triglyceride, VLDL, S. uric acid and slight reduction in LDL-C at the end of fasting. There was slight reduction but the difference was non-significant (P>0.05) in the value of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) and (C3, C4) also, there was no difference in the sensitization rate of lymphocyte transformation in both healthy and type two diabetic patients compared with healthy non-fasting control.
CONCLUSION:
Slight elevation of HDL-C and slight elevation of B. urea, S. uric acid, S. Triglyceride, VLDL and there is non significant changes in Immunoglobulins and complement concentration and sensitization rate of lymphocyte transformation. Thus, Ramadan is safe for type two diabetic patients with the proper education of diabetic management.