The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males

Abstract

Background

Millions of Muslims around the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan as a requirement of their religion Islam. Studies have reported varying effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormones. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Growth Hormone levels in healthy individuals, and to evaluate the possible relationship between their hormone values and scale scores. Male healthcare professionals working at a university hospital without any psychiatric disease were included in the study. In the last week before Ramadan and in the first week after Ramadan, participants’ blood samples were taken at 8.00 in the morning after 12 h of fasting, taking into account the release pattern and pulsatile release of these hormones in order to measure plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, NPY and Growth Hormone levels. Simultaneously, a sociodemographic data form, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Scale of Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships were applied to participants.

Results

The sample of the study included a total of 40 healthcare professionals. Participants’ BSI interpersonal sensitivity and phobic anxiety subscales scores and their general severity and positive symptom distress index scores decreased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan. (p < 0.001, p = 0.020, p = 0.042, p = 0.006 respectively). Also participants’ ghrelin levels increased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health may be mediated by some psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms. In order to elucidate these mechanisms that mediate the effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health, there is a need for better-structured studies with larger samples and more variables.