Ramadan Fasting and Patients with Renal Problems: A Literature Review

Millions of Muslims across the world observe Islamic fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and other days of lunar calendar year. The believers of Islam do not eat or drink from just before the sunrise until the sunset during fasting. Absence of fluid intake during Islamic fasting leads to dehydration, which may affect the renal health and though the sick are exempted from Islamic fasting majority of patients may prefer to fast during Ramadan. Hence, this review aims to summarise the effects of Islamic fasting specifically in patients with renal problems including chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the patients on kidney transplants, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and intestinal dialysis. This literature review conducted through searching in databases like Medline, PubMed, PMC, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, Cochrane Library, and reference lists. The restriction of water during Ramadan fasting could result in acute tubular cell injury and hence the patients with Chronic Kidney Disease should consult their healthcare professionals at least a month before Ramadan and should fast under close medical supervision [21]. The patients with renal colic willing to fast during Ramadan should be advised to consume adequate amounts of water during non-fasting hours and to reduce the potential risk of dehydration while the patients on dialysis and the recipients of kidney who are willing to fast during Ramadan should be monitored closely. Overall, the patients with renal problems could fast safely during Ramadan under medical supervision.