The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males
Abstract Background Millions of Muslims around the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan as a requirement of their religion Islam. Studies have reported varying effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormones. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on menta...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-02-01
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| Series: | The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-023-00623-9 |
| _version_ | 1811165974229942272 |
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| author | Mustafa Akan Suheyla Unal Lale Gonenir Erbay Mehmet Cagatay Taskapan |
| author_facet | Mustafa Akan Suheyla Unal Lale Gonenir Erbay Mehmet Cagatay Taskapan |
| author_sort | Mustafa Akan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Millions of Muslims around the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan as a requirement of their religion Islam. Studies have reported varying effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormones. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Growth Hormone levels in healthy individuals, and to evaluate the possible relationship between their hormone values and scale scores. Male healthcare professionals working at a university hospital without any psychiatric disease were included in the study. In the last week before Ramadan and in the first week after Ramadan, participants’ blood samples were taken at 8.00 in the morning after 12 h of fasting, taking into account the release pattern and pulsatile release of these hormones in order to measure plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, NPY and Growth Hormone levels. Simultaneously, a sociodemographic data form, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Scale of Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships were applied to participants. Results The sample of the study included a total of 40 healthcare professionals. Participants’ BSI interpersonal sensitivity and phobic anxiety subscales scores and their general severity and positive symptom distress index scores decreased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan. (p < 0.001, p = 0.020, p = 0.042, p = 0.006 respectively). Also participants’ ghrelin levels increased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan (p < 0.001). Conclusions The effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health may be mediated by some psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms. In order to elucidate these mechanisms that mediate the effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health, there is a need for better-structured studies with larger samples and more variables. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:45:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0832dc3d11c7427288fef39ad99e5db9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1687-8329 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:45:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-0832dc3d11c7427288fef39ad99e5db92023-02-12T12:07:03ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery1687-83292023-02-015911910.1186/s41983-023-00623-9The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy malesMustafa Akan0Suheyla Unal1Lale Gonenir Erbay2Mehmet Cagatay Taskapan3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Malatya Turgut Ozal UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Bursa City Hospital, University of Health SciencesDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu UniversityAbstract Background Millions of Muslims around the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan as a requirement of their religion Islam. Studies have reported varying effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormones. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Growth Hormone levels in healthy individuals, and to evaluate the possible relationship between their hormone values and scale scores. Male healthcare professionals working at a university hospital without any psychiatric disease were included in the study. In the last week before Ramadan and in the first week after Ramadan, participants’ blood samples were taken at 8.00 in the morning after 12 h of fasting, taking into account the release pattern and pulsatile release of these hormones in order to measure plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, NPY and Growth Hormone levels. Simultaneously, a sociodemographic data form, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Scale of Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships were applied to participants. Results The sample of the study included a total of 40 healthcare professionals. Participants’ BSI interpersonal sensitivity and phobic anxiety subscales scores and their general severity and positive symptom distress index scores decreased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan. (p < 0.001, p = 0.020, p = 0.042, p = 0.006 respectively). Also participants’ ghrelin levels increased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan (p < 0.001). Conclusions The effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health may be mediated by some psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms. In order to elucidate these mechanisms that mediate the effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health, there is a need for better-structured studies with larger samples and more variables.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-023-00623-9FastingMental healthAnxietyInterpersonal sensitivityGhrelin |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa Akan Suheyla Unal Lale Gonenir Erbay Mehmet Cagatay Taskapan The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery Fasting Mental health Anxiety Interpersonal sensitivity Ghrelin |
| title | The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| title_full | The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| title_fullStr | The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| title_short | The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| title_sort | effect of ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males |
| topic | Fasting Mental health Anxiety Interpersonal sensitivity Ghrelin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-023-00623-9 |
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