Effect of Ramadan fasting on fatigue, mood, sleepiness, and health-related quality of life of healthy young men in summer time in Germany: A prospective controlled study
During the Islamic month of Ramadan, adherents fast from dawn until dusk for 29 to 30 days, abstaining from food, drinks, smoking, and sexual activities. The fast can extend up to 19 hours during the summer, especially in regions like Germany, as was the case in 2015. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Ramadan fasting on mood, fatigue, and health-related quality of life (QoL) among a group of young, healthy males in Germany in 2015. Participants were divided into a fasting group (FG) of 25 individuals and a non-fasting group (NFG) of 25. The FG underwent evaluations at four key times: before Ramadan, at the midpoint, near the end, and one week after Ramadan, while the NFG was assessed only at the start and near the end. The results showed no significant differences between the FG and NFG regarding mood, fatigue, and QoL at the initial and final assessments. However, significant improvements were observed in the FG from the midpoint to after Ramadan, including reductions in fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and enhancements in mood. Additionally, the FG saw notable decreases in body weight, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle, and fat-free mass. These findings suggest that while immediate differences in mood, fatigue, and QoL between fasting and non-fasting groups were not evident, Ramadan fasting ultimately led to positive changes in these aspects for the fasting individuals.
Year: 2017
