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Author: Social Behavior and Personality
The purpose of this review was to ascertain the effects on healthy Muslims of fasting during Ramadan. We found some changes such as weight loss, evidence of dehydration, increase in serum uric acid, and nonpharmacological improvement in lipid parameters. We also observed changes in daily lifestyles and mental-health status. Thus, observance of the Ramadan fasting has both positive and adverse effects on healthy individuals. The adverse effects, however, are unlikely to persist after Ramadan or to lead to other complications. Healthy individuals can observe Ramadan without anxiety about their health.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It has significance for Muslims as the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to Mohammed. To express their gratitude to God, during Ramadan Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. Apart from this proscription, there is no restriction on the amount or type of nocturnal food and fluid intake. During Ramadan the custom, however, is to consume a large meal after sunset and a relatively light meal before dawn.
Lasting 29 or 30 days, the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is believed to teach Muslims self-restraint and to remind them of the feelings of the have-nots. On the other hand, dramatic changes in dietary habits may be expected to cause physiological and psychological effects.