EFFECT OF RAMADAN FASTING ON NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Ramadan fasting is known to have positive impacts on health. Its influence on individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as measured by the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on patients with NAFLD by assessing the LSM, anthropometric and biochemical parameters of fatty liver.

METHODOLOGY
A prospective observational study was conducted on 51 NAFLD patients, who were fasted during Ramadhan month. We analysed pre- and post-Ramadan liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and anthropometric and biochemical parameters of fatty liver.

RESULT
The results showed a statistically significant decrease in LSM after fasting (P <0.05), with a mean difference of 1.62 (95%CI: 1.34, 1.90). There were also statistically significant weight, waist circumference, and BMI reductions after the fasting period (P <0.05). The mean differences, along with their respective 95% confidence intervals, demonstrate a decrease in weight by 5.02 (3.90, 6.15) kg, waist circumference by 3.41 (1.99, 4.83) cm, and BMI by 2.14 (1.58, 2.70) kg/m2 . Based on biochemical parameters, there were statistically significant reductions in fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c (P-value <0.05), with a decrease of 0.55 mmol/L and 0.16%, respectively. Similarly, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also shown to have reductions post-fasting, with a mean difference (95%CI), 18.35 (14.88, 21.83), 21.27 (17.21, 25.34), 0.80 (0.58, 1.01), 0.27 (0.18, 0.36), and 0.82 (0.61, 1.02), respectively.

CONCLUSION
The study demonstrates that Ramadan fasting could improve LSM, anthropometric, and biochemical measurements among patients with NAFLD.