Effects of fasting during Ramadan on cerebrovascular hemodynamics: A transcranial Doppler study

BACKGROUND To determine whether Islamic fasting would change cerebral blood flow during Ramadan. METHODS The study group comprised 20 subjects (16 males and 4 females) on a regimen of 1 month food and water intake restriction, according to Islamic fasting ritual. Subjects were evaluated for cerebral bolo flow through a middle cerebral artery (MCA) by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD), the day before starting Ramadan fasting and the day after the month of Ramadan. RESULTS Our results showed no statistically significant changes after Ramadan in cerebrovascular hemodynamic, in comparison before Ramadan. CONCLUSION Although some studies showed metabolic changes during Ramadan fasting (increasing hematocrite, decreasing amount of hemoglobin, dehydration, platelet aggregation, and lipid profile alternations) the findings suggest that Islamic fasting has no significant effects on cerebral blood flow.