Department of ClinicalBiochemistry-Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2013 Apr 18;8(4):e60917. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060917. Print 2013.
Chronic feeding and sleep schedule disturbances are stressors that exert damaging effects on the organism. Practicing Muslims in Saudi Arabia go through strict Ramadan fasting from dawn till sunset for one month yearly. Modern era Ramadan practices in Saudi Arabia are associated with disturbed feeding and sleep patterns, namely abstaining from food and water and increasing daytime sleep, and staying awake and receiving food and water till dawn.
Strict Ramadan practices in Saudi Arabia may influence metabolism, sleep and circadian cortisol secretion.
Young, male Ramadan practitioners were evaluated before and two weeks into the Ramadan. Blood samples were collected at 9.00 am and 9.00 pm for measurements of metabolic parameters and cortisol. Saliva was collected serially during the day for cortisol determinations.
Ramadan practitioners had relative metabolic stability or changes expected by the pattern of feeding. However, the cortisol circadian rhythm was abolished and circulating insulin levels and HOMA index were increased during this period.
The flattening of the cortisol rhythm is typical of conditions associated with chronic stress or endogenous hypercortisolism and associated with insulin resistance.
Modern Ramadan practices in Saudi Arabia are associated with evening hypercortisolism and increased insulin resistance. These changes might contribute to the high prevalence of chronic stress-related conditions, such as central obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type 2, and their cardiovascular sequelae observed in the Kingdom.
慢性喂养和睡眠时间表紊乱是对机体造成损害的应激源。沙特阿拉伯的虔诚穆斯林每年要经历为期一个月的严格斋月禁食，从黎明到日落。在现代，沙特阿拉伯的斋月习俗与进食和睡眠模式紊乱有关，即禁食水和增加白天睡眠时间，以及保持清醒并在黎明前接受食物和水。
沙特阿拉伯严格的斋月习俗可能会影响代谢、睡眠和昼夜皮质醇分泌。
在斋月开始前和两周时，对年轻的男性斋月实践者进行评估。在上午 9 点和晚上 9 点采集血液样本，以测量代谢参数和皮质醇。白天连续采集唾液样本来测定皮质醇。
斋月实践者的代谢相对稳定，或出现预期的喂养模式变化。然而，在此期间，皮质醇昼夜节律被消除，循环胰岛素水平和 HOMA 指数升高。
皮质醇节律的平坦化是与慢性应激或内源性皮质醇增多症相关的典型情况，并与胰岛素抵抗有关。
沙特阿拉伯现代斋月习俗与傍晚皮质醇增多症和胰岛素抵抗增加有关。这些变化可能导致与慢性应激相关的疾病（如中心性肥胖、高血压、代谢综合征和 2 型糖尿病）及其在该王国观察到的心血管后果的高发。
