Methods: We prospectively studied the effect of fasting Ramadan in the summer ... Conclusion: Intermittent fasting in the month of Ramadan results in a favorable.
Inflammation and microcirculation
patients with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) revascuralized by Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Aim: To study the effect of intermittent fasting in Ramadan on the inflammatory state, lipid profile, plasma osmolarity and occurrence of ischemic events in IHD patients after CABG or PCI. Methods: We prospectively studied the effect of fasting Ramadan in the summer on 61 patients previously treated by CABG or PCI, followed up in the out patient clinic. Occurrence of ischemic episodes was recorded. Blood osmolarity, serum total Cholesterol (s-Ch), Triglycerides (s-TG), and high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), were measured one week before Ramadan as Non-Fasting State (NFS) and on the last day of Ramadan as Fasting State (FS). Results: Sixty-one patients were studied (25 females, mean age 54.6±7.2 years). 24 had hypertension, 27 had diabetes, and 23 were smokers. 42 underwent successfull CABG and 19 underwent successfull PCI, 31.4±21.7 and 10.8±2.2 months, respectively, before the study. No ischemic episodes were recorded during the period of fasting. s-Ch was 142±59 in FS vs. 138.5±7.09 mg/dL in NFS, (p=0.736). s-TG was 102.7±50.7 in FS vs. 101.7±53.3mg/dl in NFS, (p=0.914). Osmolarity increased, but non-significantly, in FS vs. NFS (285.5±25.5 vs. 278.5±29.07 mOs/kg, p=0.163) despite the relatively high peak and average temperature as well as humidity, which were not different from the month before (p=0.933, p=0.214, p=0.493, p=0.791, respectively), suggesting absence of significant hemoconcentration. Interestingly, hs-CRP decreased significantly in FS vs. NFS (4.88±3.75 vs. 7.64±3.9, mg/dL, p
