Metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting in patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases

K Beltaief1,2, W Bouida1,2, I Trabelsi1,2, H Baccouche1,2, M Sassi,3 Z Dridi,4 T Chakroun,5 I Hellara,6 R Boukef,7 M Hassine,6 F Addad,8 R Razgallah,9 I Khochtali,10 S Nouira1,2  On behalf of the Ramadan Research Group1Emergency Department, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia; 2Research Laboratory (LR12SP18), University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia; 3Biological Laboratory, Maternity and Neonatal Medicine Center, Monastir, Tunisia; 4Cardiology Department, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia; 5Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; 6Hematology Department, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monasitr, Tunisia; 7Emergency Department, Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; 8Cardiology Department, Abderrahman Mami University Hospital, Ariana 1080, Tunisia; 9DACIMA, Tunis, Tunisia; 10Endocrinology and Internal Medicine Department, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, TunisiaBackground and aim: The effects of Ramadan fasting on health are a little controversial. The present study is aimed at evaluating the metabolic effects on a group of 517 patients with ≥2 cardiovascular risk factors over a period running from 2012 to 2014.Methods: Each patient was assessed at three visits: before, during, and after Ramadan. Demographical, clinical and biological tests were performed at each visit.Results: Metabolically, we noted a significant and discrete rise in blood glucose level (+1.2 mmol/L), triglycerides (+0.3 mmol/L), cholesterol (+0.12 mmol/L) and creatinine (+3 μmol/L) during Ramadan. These disturbances decreased significantly after Ramadan. The same variations were observed among diabetics (n=323). However, there was a significant decrease in HbA1c after Ramadan (9.0% vs 7.6%, p<0.001). Our findings also revealed there was no significant correlation between variations of metabolic parame