Student Research Committee, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Oct;75(10):e14591. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14591. Epub 2021 Aug 19.
This study aimed to investigate the consequence of Ramadan fasting on gut bacterium (Bacteroides and Firmicutes), serum concentration for butyrate, and lipid profile.
Thirty healthy subjects were enlisted and investigated two times (before and at the end of Ramadan). Fasting blood samples were obtained for measuring fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile and serum butyrate concentration. Anthropometrics variables were measured before and after Ramadan for all 30 subjects. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, targeting the genome of Bacteroides and Firmicutes was performed to determine its presence in the stool samples. Food intake was assessed by a 3-day food record before and after Ramadan. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS ver.13 and Minitab ver.17. P < 0.05 considered the level of significance.
The study results showed that serum levels of butyrate significantly increase during the month from 0.23 ± 0.02 mM to 0.46 ± 0.03 mM (P < 0.05). The gut Bacteroides and Firmicutes increased by 21 and 13 percent after Ramadan compared to before (P < 0.05). The increment in Bacteroides occurred in both sexes, but Firmicutes significantly increased only in women. Food intake was decreased during Ramadan. Ramadan fasting caused significant reduction in BMI from 25.72 ± 0.58 kg/m2to 25.25 ± 0.55 kg/m (P < 0.05). Serum levels of LDL, HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, and total cholesterol significantly decreased during Ramadan (P < 0.05). However, the decrease in FBS and TG level were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
It can be stated that the promotion of Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the gut might play a crucial role in health promotion. However, more research is needed to achieve a definite conclusion.
本研究旨在探讨斋月禁食对肠道细菌（拟杆菌和厚壁菌门）、血清丁酸盐浓度和血脂谱的影响。
招募了 30 名健康受试者，并在两次（斋月前和斋月结束时）进行了调查。禁食血样用于测量空腹血糖（FBS）和血脂谱以及血清丁酸盐浓度。对所有 30 名受试者进行了斋月前后的人体测量学变量测量。采用定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分析，针对拟杆菌和厚壁菌门的基因组，确定其在粪便样本中的存在。在斋月前后通过 3 天的食物记录评估食物摄入量。统计分析采用 SPSS 版本 13 和 Minitab 版本 17 进行。P < 0.05 为差异有统计学意义。
研究结果表明，血清丁酸盐水平在斋月期间从 0.23 ± 0.02 mM 显著增加到 0.46 ± 0.03 mM（P < 0.05）。与斋月前相比，肠道拟杆菌和厚壁菌门在斋月后分别增加了 21%和 13%（P < 0.05）。拟杆菌的增加发生在两性中，但厚壁菌门仅在女性中显著增加。斋月期间食物摄入量减少。斋月禁食导致 BMI 从 25.72 ± 0.58 kg/m2显著降低至 25.25 ± 0.55 kg/m（P < 0.05）。血清 LDL、HDL、LDL/HDL 比值和总胆固醇水平在斋月期间显著降低（P < 0.05）。然而，FBS 和 TG 水平的降低没有统计学意义（P > 0.05）。
可以说，肠道中拟杆菌和厚壁菌门的增加可能在促进健康方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，需要进一步的研究来得出明确的结论。
