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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 2023; 15(02): 050-066
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768638
Review Article

Review of the Literature on Ramadan Fasting and Health in 2022

Khadija Hafidh 
1   Department of Medicine, Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2   Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
,
Maria Khan
3   Department of Neurology, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
,
Tariq G. Shaikh
4   Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
Husen Abdurahman
5   Department of Medicine, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
Jamila Elamouri
6   Nephrology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Tripoli Central Hospital, Tripoli, Libya
,
Salem A. Beshyah 
1   Department of Medicine, Dubai Medical College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
7   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
8   Department of Medicine, Yas Clinic Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
› Author Affiliations
Funding and Sponsorship The project received no financial support or sponsorship.
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Abstract

Objectives The literature on health and disease during Ramadan fasting (RF) is widely spread in many journals making it not readily accessible to those interested in the subject. Here, we provide an overview of the research on the interplay of RF with various aspects of well-being published in 2022.

Materials and Methods A narrative, nonsystematic review of the international literature from a single major medical online database, PubMed, in one calendar year (2022) was conducted. The search term “Ramadan fasting” was used to retrieve the appropriate records. The relevant literature with substantial data-based content was presented in a concise thematic account, excluding those concerned with diabetes.

Results Themes that emerged from the review included the pathophysiology of metabolic changes during RF, nutritional aspects including body composition and energy metabolism, cardiovascular disease and risk factors, renal function and structure, endocrinology (mainly thyroid), neurological disorders, mental health, pregnancy and fetal life, and infections (including COVID). Some miscellaneous clinical themes were identified, such as patients' and professional perspectives.

Conclusions In 2022, the medical interest in RF was again widely spread across specialties. Cardiovascular disease and risk factors attract the most interest in terms of original articles and professional guidelines. We hope with this review to present a concise summary of the scholarly work on the subject in this year.

Keywords

Ramadan fasting - patient's perspectives - thyroid - cardiovascular disease - pregnancy - renal function - pathophysiology

Note

To the best of our abilities, we presented our perception of the published work in good faith. Original authors cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentation.


Authors' Contribution

S.A.B. proposed the study, performed the literature searches, and drafted the manuscript. All authors reviewed the whole document for intellectual content. All authors approved its final version.


Compliance with Ethical Principles

No ethical approval is required.




Publication History

Article published online:
24 April 2023

© 2023. The Libyan Biotechnology Research Center. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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