OBJECTIVE During Ramadan, adult Muslims stop eating and drinking during the daytime. Fasting may cause physiological habitual and behavioral changes that may cause an increase in the rate of road traffic accidents (RTA) during Ramadan. The aim of this study was to see whether there is a real increase in the rate and severity of patients treated secondary to RTA during Ramadan. METHODS We enro...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of Ramadan fasting on serum levels of stress neurohormones in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was a clinical trial and was performed during July 2011 (month of Ramadan) in Royan institute, Tehran. A total of 40 women who were aged 20-40 years and known cases of PCOS and had no other medical diseases were ...

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of imparting knowledge of the Malaysian Food Guideline (MFG) on a group of overweight and obese women during Ramadan. METHODS This intervention study was conducted during the months of Ramadan 2011. A group of 84 Malay Muslim women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were recruited. Prior to Ramadan, the respondents were educated regarding MFG, and how to...

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and biochemical effects of fasting during Ramadan on patients with cardiac disease. METHODS Eighty-six outpatients with heart disease with intention to fast were studied in the month of Ramadan 1996 (1416 H) at the King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Detailed clinical and biochemical assessments were performed within 3 days bef...

BACKGROUND VIRTUE was a prospective, observational study assessing the effectiveness and safety of vildagliptin vs sulfonylureas (SUs) (both as monotherapy and in combination with metformin) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who fasted during Ramadan. A post hoc analysis was carried out to assess the effect of treatment with/without metformin and age (<65 years or ≥65 years). PATIENTS...

Many Muslim women worldwide are pregnant during Ramadan and adhere to Ramadan fasting during pregnancy. In the present study, we determined whether maternal adherence to Ramadan fasting during pregnancy has an impact on the birth weight of the newborn, and whether the effects differed according to trimester in which Ramadan fasting took place. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 130 pre...

Using a difference-in-differences framework, we estimate the impact of Ramadan on educational outcomes of Muslim students living in a non-Muslim country. For identification we exploit the fact that the number of Ramadan weeks during the course that we study, varies from year to year, ranging from zero to four. Our main finding is that Ramadan observance has a negative impact on performance; one...

Diabetes & Primary Care Vol 13 No 3 2011 Fasting in Ramadan (Sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam. The other pillars are: Shahada (the declaration of faith), Salah (five daily prayers), Zakat (annual alms tax) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The Muslim population in the UK is estimated close to 1.6 million people, constituting 2.7% of the overall population (Office for National Statistics,...