Who is most likely to benefit from this content:
Healthcare Providers
Patients
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Highlights |
| Saudi Heart Association Study on Fasting and Heart Failure:
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Research presented by the Saudi Heart Association in March of 2018 states that Ramadan fasting can be safe for patients with heart failure. “Patients with heart failure frequently ask their doctor if it is safe to fast but until now we didn’t have any evidence on which to base our advice,” according to the author of the study, Dr. Rami Abazid, cardiologist, Prince Sultan Cardiac Centre, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
The study included 249 outpatients from three heart failure clinics who had planned to fast during Ramadan in 2017. A total of 227 (91%) patients fasted for the duration of Ramadan. Of those, 209 (92%) had no changes or improved symptoms, while symptoms worsened in 18 (8%) patients. Hospitalization and emergency department visits were more frequent in patients with worsening symptoms compared to those with stable or improved symptoms (39% versus 0%, p≤0.0001 and 50% versus 10%, p≤0.0001, respectively). The study found that patients with worsening symptoms were less likely to have adhered to fluid and salt restrictions (39% versus 79%, p<0.0001) and were less adherent to heart failure drugs (67% versus 94%, p<0.0001) than those with stable or improved symptoms. |
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| Patient Education Handout for Ramadan and Heart Disease: CLICK HERE |
An excellent handout developed by the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital of Birmingham. The handout is targeted towards patients with heart disease and addresses frequently asked questions patients with heart disease may have who wish to participate in fasting during the month of Ramadan. |
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| The Year in Ramadan Fasting Research (2017): A Narrative Review: CLICK HERE |
The authors performed a narrative, nonsystematic review of the literature including case reports, case series, and review articles found in PubMed and Google Scholar in a full calendar year. Studies were reviewed, summarized, and represented to provide a comprehensive summary of available research relevant to fasting implications to clinical practice from January to December of 2017. The publications spanned physiological and clinical aspects and crossed conventional disciplinary lines in various languages, locations, and systems of journal access. |
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| The Impact of Diurnal Fasting During Ramadan on Patients with Established Cardiac Disease: A Systematic Review: CLICK HERE |
Patients with stable controlled cardiac disease may fast during the month of Ramadan since most studies show no significant adverse effect of fasting on these patients. Physician consultation and monitoring is highly advised in these patients before and during the fast. Adhering to prescribed medications, a strict diet, drinking fluids and increasing physical activity is highly advised. Diabetic and hypertensive patients with stable cardiac disease must be monitored closely and must commit to controlling blood sugars, blood pressure, and lipid levels during the fast. |
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| Effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors: a prospective observational study: CLICK HERE |
A prospective observational study was carried out in a group of patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor (including history of documented previous history of either coronary artery disease (CAD), metabolic syndrome or cerebro-vascular disease in the past 10 years prior to the study. This study shows a significant improvement in 10 years coronary heart disease risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors such as lipids profile, systolic blood pressure, weight, BMI and waist circumference in subjects with a previous history of cardiovascular disease. |
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| Mayo Clinic on Fasting and Heart Health: CLICK HERE |
Mayo clinic physician answers question on how fasting may affect heart health: Is it true that occasionally following a fasting diet can reduce my risk of heart disease?
Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D: However, at least one study has indicated that people who follow a fasting diet may have better heart health than people who don’t. More study is needed to determine whether regular fasting can reduce your risk of heart disease. Most scientific evidence on fasting comes from animal, not human, studies. The studies that have been done on people are mostly observational, which has the lowest level of scientific evidence. |
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| Harvard Health on Intermittent Fasting: CLICK HERE |
There is some good scientific evidence suggesting that circadian rhythm fasting, when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can be a particularly effective approach to weight loss, especially for people at risk for diabetes.
However, people with advanced diabetes or who are on medications for diabetes, people with a history of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not attempt intermittent fasting unless under the close supervision of a physician who can monitor them. According to metabolic expert Dr. Deborah Wexler, Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center and associate professor at Harvard Medical School: “There is evidence to suggest that the circadian rhythm fasting approach, where meals are restricted to an eight to 10-hour period of the daytime, is effective,” she confirmed, though generally she recommends that people “use an eating approach that works for them and is sustainable to them.” |
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| Cleveland Clinic Physician on Heart Health and Fasting: CLICK HERE |
A cardiologist’s prospective on pros and cons of fasting:
Cardiologist Haitham Ahmed, MD, sees many advantages in fasting from food for short periods. And, given the promising findings in this “emerging area” of research, he expects that more people will want to attempt it. Though it depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish (and it’s not safe for everyone), it’s beneficial to limit your food intake, in general. “By every measure, eating less is better,” Dr. Ahmed says. “Four of the major risks for heart disease are high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and weight, so there’s a secondary impact,” Dr. Ahmed says. “If we reduce those, we can reduce the risk of heart disease.” One word of caution, though: Fasting can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. This can make the heart unstable and prone to arrhythmias. “So whenever we prescribe a protein-sparing modified fast diet, we check blood tests monthly and prescribe potassium supplementation to prevent electrolyte imbalance from occurring,” Dr. Ahmed says. Some studies also show that fasting may help prevent cancer or increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment. However, much of the research on fasting is in preliminary stages. “We have a lot more to learn about fasting,” he says. |
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| Study conducted analyzing effects of Intermittent Fasting on men with Prediabetes: CLICK HERE |
Study Title: Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Blood Pressure, and Oxidative Stress Even without Weight Loss in Men with Prediabetes
Early Time-Restricted Feeding follows the Intermittent Fasting Model |
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| Healthline: 8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science: CLICK HERE |
Healthline conducted a review of scientific evidence around fasting and summarized 8 benefits linked to research in this article.
Healthline Conclusion: From water fasting to intermittent fasting and calorie restriction, there are many different types of fasting that fit nearly every lifestyle. |
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| Effects of Intermittent Fasting of Health, Aging, and Disease – New England Journal of Medicine: CLICK HERE |
A review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine reviewing the effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease. |
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