The impact of Ramadan fasting on oxidative stress levels in the second trimester of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of fasting during Ramadan on maternal oxidative stress levels and foetal development; pregnant women with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies in the second trimester.

METHODS

During the month of Ramadan, 23 March 2023 to 20 April 2023, 50 fasting and 50 non-fasting healthy pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective study. The fasting hours were about 14 h per day in that season. Pregnant women in the second trimester were enrolled in the study. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured from maternal serum samples taken on a fasting day at the end of Ramadan. To evaluate the impact of Ramadan on the foetus, Doppler ultrasonography was performed in the beginning and then at the end of Ramadan in all participants and was used for the following measurements: Increase of biparietal diameter, femur length, estimated foetal body weight, amniotic fluid index and umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio. To discern differences between distinct cohorts, independent

RESULTS

TAS level was found to be significantly lower in the group that fasted for more than 15 days compared to the non-fasting group that did not fast (

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that fasting during the second trimester of pregnancy does not substantially impact maternal or foetal health, as indicated by most oxidative stress markers and foetal parameters studied. However, the observed reduction in the TAS levels in the fasting group warrants further investigation.

Ramadan is the holy month for the Islamic World. During Ramadan, a pregnant woman is exempt from fasting if she believes that fasting would endanger her own health or that of the foetus.The significance of oxidative stress in pregnancy is widely recognised as it is thought to play a role in conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm labour. However, the effect of fasting during Ramadan on maternal oxidative stress and foetal development remains unclear.During Ramadan, no adverse foetal effects were observed in fasting pregnant women compared to non-fasting pregnant women. The total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly reduced in the fasting group, suggesting an adaptive metabolic response or influence of fasting duration. Lower TAS levels may not only be attributed to fasting during Ramadan but also to changes in dietary habits and lifestyle factors (e.g. physical activity and sleep).