The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males.
Observing the Ramadan fast is a religious obligation for millions of Muslims worldwide. Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the impact of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormonal levels. This study sought to investigate the influence of Ramadan fasting on mental health and the levels of plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), and Growth Hormone in healthy individuals, as well as to assess any potential links between hormone levels and psychological assessment scores. The study included male healthcare workers from a university hospital with no psychiatric conditions. Blood samples were collected in the last week before Ramadan and the first week after, early in the morning after a 12-hour fast, to analyze plasma levels of Leptin, Ghrelin, NPY, and Growth Hormone. This timing considered the hormones’ secretion patterns. Additionally, participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Scale of Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships. The study comprised 40 healthcare professionals. There was a significant reduction in the scores for interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, general severity, and positive symptom distress index on the BSI after Ramadan, indicating an improvement in these areas (with statistical significance). Furthermore, there was a notable increase in participants’ ghrelin levels post-Ramadan. Ramadan fasting’s impact on mental health appears to involve psychoneuroendocrine pathways. Further, more comprehensive studies with larger participant groups and additional variables are required to clarify these mechanisms underlying the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health. [Fasting Ramadan, hormone levels, ghrehlin, mental health, leptin]
Year: 2023
