1. EFFECTS OF RAMADHAN FASTING ON STRESS LEVELS BASED ON SALIVARY CORTISOL LEVELS IN HEALTHY ADULT MALES
INTRODUCTION
Ramadhan fasting practice not only involves abstention from or restriction of food and water but also inculcates self discipline and self-restraint.
However the nature of this practice may be associated with disturbed sleep and feeding patterns which could increase body stress levels.
OBJECTIVE
Thus the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Ramadhan fasting on the body stress levels using salivary cortisol as a stress marker in healthy male Malaysian subjects.
METHODOLOGY
19 healthy male (19-23 years) Muslim
The difference between the two groups was analysed using paired sample t-test using SPSS version 21. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant
Anthropometry and unstimulated salivary samples were taken 1 week before (Phase 1) and during the 4th week of fasting (Phase 2)
In order to maintain the same duration of fasting (eight hours) in both Phase 1 and 2, salivary samples were collected at 1 pm
Phase 1, subjects were asked to complete their morning meal by 5 am and fast until 1 pm
In this manner, both Phase 1 and 2 samples were collected 8 hours after the morning meal
Salivary cortisol was estimated using ELISA
RESULTS
Subjects experienced a significant decrease in body weight and body mass index (p < 0.01). There was also a decrease in salivary cortisol levels, however this decrease was not statistically significant (p=0.2).
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that Ramadhan fasting in young healthy individuals has a positive impact on health. There was statistically significant lowering of body weight as well as body mass index. Despite the change in sleep and dietary patterns, we observed a decrease in stress levels during the course of the Ramadhan month.
Hakimi Zainudin1, Brinnell Caszo2, Shahidah Abdullah2, Victor Feizal2, Justin Gnanou2
1Pusat Pengurusan Penyelidikan dan Inovasi, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia