Department of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Unit, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Crete, Greece.
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Nutrients. 2023 May 25;15(11):2468. doi: 10.3390/nu15112468.
Studies regarding health effects of religious fasting have been increased during the last decade. Our aim was to investigate the impact of adherence to the periodic Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting on nutrient intake, body composition, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Four-hundred individuals aged 42.6 ± 17.0 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Two-hundred subjects followed the COC fasting since childhood or at least the last twelve consecutive years, and two-hundred subjects did not follow the COC fasting regimes or any other restrictive dietary pattern. Socioeconomic data, lifestyle habits, and physical activity data were collected. Nutritional assessment was performed via two 24 h recalls and a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric data and biochemical parameters were also measured.
Fasters had a significantly lower daily intake of calories (1547 vs. 1662 kcals, = 0.009), protein (52 vs. 59 g, = 0.001), fat (82 vs. 89 g, = 0.012), and cholesterol (147 vs. 178 g, = 0.001) compared with non-fasters. Furthermore, fasters reported a healthier way of living, with lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption ( < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Insulin and magnesium levels were significantly higher, whereas levels of urea, transaminases, glucose, and phosphorus were significantly lower, as was DBP in fasters versus non-fasters. Furthermore, MetS prevalence was non-significantly higher in non-faster compared with fasters.
During a non-fasting period, individuals following the COC fasting recommendations reported lower intake of calories, protein, fat, and cholesterol compared with non-fasters. Fasters tended to have a healthier lifestyle pattern and a lower risk for MetS versus non-fasters. Some biochemical parameters also significantly differed between the two study groups. Further research is warranted to establish the long-term clinical impact of these findings.
在过去十年中，关于宗教禁食对健康影响的研究有所增加。我们的目的是调查周期性的基督教东正教（COC）禁食对营养摄入、身体成分和代谢综合征（MetS）危险因素的影响。
本横断面研究共纳入 400 名年龄为 42.6±17.0 岁的个体。其中 200 名受试者自童年或至少过去 12 年以来一直遵循 COC 禁食，而另外 200 名受试者不遵循 COC 禁食制度或任何其他限制饮食模式。收集了社会经济数据、生活方式习惯和身体活动数据。通过两次 24 小时回忆和食物频率问卷进行营养评估。还测量了人体测量数据和生化参数。
与非禁食者相比，禁食者的每日热量（1547 与 1662 kcal， = 0.009）、蛋白质（52 与 59 g， = 0.001）、脂肪（82 与 89 g， = 0.012）和胆固醇（147 与 178 g， = 0.001）摄入量明显较低。此外，禁食者的生活方式更健康，吸烟和饮酒率较低（均<0.001 和 0.002）。胰岛素和镁水平明显较高，而尿素、转氨酶、葡萄糖和磷水平明显较低，且禁食者的舒张压也明显低于非禁食者。此外，非禁食者的 MetS 患病率较禁食者非显著升高。
在非禁食期间，遵循 COC 禁食建议的个体报告的热量、蛋白质、脂肪和胆固醇摄入量低于非禁食者。与非禁食者相比，禁食者的生活方式更健康，患 MetS 的风险更低。两组研究对象的一些生化参数也存在显著差异。需要进一步的研究来确定这些发现的长期临床影响。
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