Fatma Zehra AGAN, Cigdem CINDOGLU, Burcu BEYAZGUL, Senay KOCAKOGLU, Dursun BARUT, Orhan AMAC, Veysel AGAN, Gulsah ETHEMOGLU
İnönü Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu Dergisi - 2026;14(2):444-453
Ramadan fasting involves daily periods of abstinence from food and fluid intake, leading to various metabolic and physiological adaptations. Understanding these effects is important for evaluating how fasting influences health-related biomarkers and body composition. To investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on health, this study examined changes in haematological, biochemical, and anthropometric parameters before and after the fasting period. This study was designed as a pre-post observational study. Outpatient clinic assessments were conducted one week before and one week after Ramadan fasting. Forty individuals underwent anthropometric measurements using a TANITA bioelectrical impedance analyser, and haematological and biochemical blood tests. Pre- and post-Ramadan values were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test because the data were not normally distributed. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Changes in haematological indices, biochemical markers, and anthropometric measurements were observed in association with Ramadan fasting. Ramadan fasting resulted in significant changes in several haematological parameters, including lymphocyte count, haemoglobin, and mean platelet volume (p <0.05). Significant differences were also observed in glucose, thyroxine (T4), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and iron (p <=0.05). Anthropometric measurements showed significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body water percentage, and fat mass after fasting (p <0.05). Ramadan fasting appears to induce beneficial metabolic changes, which may be associated with improvements in glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and body composition, leading to favorable alterations in haematological, biochemical, and anthropometric parameters in healthy individuals. The observed changes may reflect favorable metabolic adaptations; however, caution is warranted because insulin sensitivity and HOMA-IR were not measured, and dietary and physical activity factors were not fully controlled. The study has several limitations: a single-centre design; lack of control over participants' dietary and lifestyle factors; and short-term measurements that preclude assessment of long-term effects.
