@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2014;20(3):157-163

Background
… [1-4] Fasting affects metabolic activities, chemical compounds of body, blood components, and physical activities [5-7]. In addition, physical activity reduces, while fatigue increases [8, 9]. … [10, 11] During Ramadhan, weight loss might be in a correlation with fluid reduction, decrease in water supply connected to the glycogen, low decrease in the body tissue with the usual hypo-hydration levels and extracellular water reduction [12]. During Ramadhan, some blood compounds might be affected by change in serum osmolarity.
Previous Studies
During fasting in Ramadhan, the body mass of Judo fighters continuing their exercise with a lower intensity decreases [5]. Fasting with regular physical activity can reduce body weight, BMI, and fat percentage [10]. There are no significant changes in body weight and fat of semi-endurance runners in Ramadhan [11]. Osmolarity, serum electrolytes such as sodium, and bicarbonate levels increase in Ramadhan [13-16]. Fasting with exercises leads to energy consumption, sweating, and more water loss [17]. In one month fasting, there have been significant decreases in potassium, creatinine, urine, and uric acid levels in both active and non-active women, while there have been no significant changes in glucose, sodium, phosphor, and osmolarity levels [18]. There has been normal water absorption during one month fasting, while there have been significant increases in the urinary osmolarity values, as well as no change in the blood urine level [19]. … [20-23]
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one month fasting with regular exercises on electrolytes and serum osmolarity changes in male wrestlers.
Research type
This is a semi-experimental study with repeated tests.
Research society, place and time
Male wrestlers were studied in Ramadhan of 2014 with 16 hours per day fasting.
Sampling method and number
9 elite and healthy wrestlers with an average of 8-year experience were selected via purposeful and selective available sampling.
Used devices&materials
The cases’ height, hip and waist circumferences, and body fat and weight percentage with 100g sensitivity were measured using 5mm sensitive stadiometer (Seca; Germany), 5mm tape meter (Mabis; Japan), and impedance bioelectrical device (model 720) (InBody; South Korea), in every appropriate measurement. After 4 hours fasting and after the cases’ bladder, stomach, and intestines having been empty as well as possible, all measurements were done. Kit (Pars Azmoon; Iran) was used to measure albumin through photometric method. Sodium and potassium were measured through photometric method. Urine was measured through urease test, using 1.21% sensitive kit (Man; Iran). Creatinine was measured through Jaffe method, using 0.98% sensitive kit (Man; Iran). Blood glucose was measured through enzymatic method using “801-AT” biochemical auto-analyzer device (CRONIX; USA) and kit (Man; Iran). Serum osmolarity index was computed by the formula “OSM=2Na+BUN/2.8+G/18” [18]. The selected exercise program was the regular and advanced program for the Iranian male elite wrestlers. The program, including two wrestling exercise sessions, two sessions for specialized skills review, one session for aerobic exercises, and one weightlifting session, was applied one month and 6 sessions per week. There was 5% increase in the intensity of the exercises in the first week. Intensity and amount of the exercises were fixed in the second week. Due to the beginning of Ramadhan in the third week, there was 10% decrease in the intensity of the exercises, while the amount of the exercise was fixed. In the fourth week, intensity and amount of the exercise were fixed. In the fifth week, there was 5% increase in the intensity of the exercises, while the amount of the exercises was fixed. In the sixth week, there was 5% additional increase in the intensity of the exercises, while the amount of the exercises was fixed. In the seventh week, there was 5% increase in the intensity. Exercise intensity was controlled by Borg scale [23]. Through blood taking from the forward brachial vein, serum electrolytes and body compounds were measured at 4 stages, including 3 days before Ramadhan, after 14 days fasting, after 28 days fasting, and 2 weeks after Ramadhan, in the same conditions and after 12-hour fasting. There was 48-hour interval between blood-taking and the exercises. The cases did not fast on the day of sampling. Data was analyzed, using SPSS 15 software. Normal distribution of data was confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk test. Repeated Measure ANOVA was used to compare between intra-group variance changes.
Findings by Text
There were significant reductions in body weight index and body water level at the end of Ramadhan. There were significant increases in the intragroup mean changes of urine, creatinine, uric acid, and sodium during Ramadhan than the beginning of Ramadhan. There was a significant increase in the intra-group mean changes of serum osmolarity index during Ramadhan (Table 1).
Main comparison to the similar studies
There were significant reductions in body weight and water of the cases, during Ramadan with regular exercises. There were reductions in waist-to-hip ratio and fat percent at the end of the period, while the reductions were not significant. Results of the present study are consistent with the results of some studies [24-27], while they are not consistent with other studies [28-29]. In women and during Ramadhan, yoga exercises reduce weight, BMI (3.8%), body fat percentage (5.78%), and waist-to-hip ratio (4.81%) [24]. One month fasting reduces weight, BMI, insulin resistance, and serum glucose [25]. In two training timing, there have been reductions in weight (1.36%) and BMI (1.25%) in 34 elite athletes [26]. Body compounds indices such as weight (1.73%), BMI (1.64%), and the consumed calories have decreased in 12 female athletes aged between 15 and 27 years in one month fasting with physical activities [27]. In 30 pregnant fasting women, there have been no changes in weight (0.35% increase) and BMI (0.79%), while urine and creatinine have been increased in the second week. However, there have been no changes in creatinine, phosphate, and ALP at the end of Ramadhan and 2 weeks after that month [29]. There is more weight loss due to fasting in the overweight persons than underweight persons and people with normal weight [30]. There were increase in urine, creatinine, uric acid, and sodium in Ramadhan than the beginning of the month. … [31-36] The results are consistent with the results of some studies [18, 37], while they are not consistent with some other studies [20, 38]. Potassium, creatinine, urine, and uric acid decrease due to one month fasting and regular exercises in active and non-active women [18]. Glucose, urine, and albumin decrease due to one month fasting and regular exercises in active and non-active men [37]. … [39]
Suggestions
Special measures to modify feeding behavior in accordance with fasting month changes should be considered in exercise planning.
Limitations
Different diets, different adaptation responses to fasting, and individual differences were of the limitations for the present study.
Conclusions
Islamic fasting increases serum electrolytes and osmolarity in the professional athletes. Enough water and liquid consumption with appropriate environmental conditions (to reduce sweating) prevent osmolarity increase and serum electrolytes disorders in Ramadhan.
Acknowledgments
The researchers appreciate the participants.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Non-declared
Funding Sources
Research and Technology Deputy of Mashhad Ferdowsi University funded the study.

TABLES and CHARTS

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