Title

The Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Multiple Sclerosis.

Authors

Sabry M. Abd El-Dayem; Hossam Abdel Hafiz Zyton

Abstract

Background: Fasting during Ramadan is a religious duty for all healthy adult Muslims. It is assumed that hundreds of millions of people observe the Ramadan fasting each year. Muslim multiple sclerosis patients may seek advice on feasibility and safety of fasting and its medical implications on their clinical condition. Objective: To study the effects of Ramadan fasting on multiple sclerosis activity and severity. Methods: Thirty Muslim multiple sclerosis patients were rolled into the study; 15 fasted Ramadan and 15 did not fast as control group. Clinical characteristics and MRI findings in both groups were compared at the entry of the study and after one year. Results: Both fasting and non-fasting groups were cross-matched regarding age at onset, sex, annualized relapsing rate and EDSS status score at the entry of the study (P> 0.05). One year after Ramadan fasting, there was no significant difference between both fasting and non-fasting groups regarding annualized relapsing rate, EDSS score and gadolinium enhanced lesions on MRI (P> 0.05). Conclusion: There were no effects of Ramadan fasting on disease activity or severity in multiple sclerosis patients.

Subjects

RAMADAN; ISLAMIC fasts & feasts; FASTING (Islam); MUSLIMS; MULTIPLE sclerosis; DISEASE relapse; MAGNETIC resonance imaging

Publication

Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry & Neurosurgery, 2012, Vol 49, Issue 4, p341

ISSN

1110-1083

Publication type

Academic Journal