Diurnal intermittent fasting during Ramadan: the effects on leptin and ghrelin levels

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 17;9(3):e92214. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092214. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

We aimed to assess the effect of Islamic intermittent fasting, during and outside of Ramadan, on plasma levels of leptin and ghrelin while controlling for several potential confounding variables. Eight healthy male volunteers with a mean age of 26.6±4.9 years reported to the sleep disorders center (SDC) at King Saud University on four occasions: 1) adaptation; 2) 4 weeks before Ramadan while performing Islamic fasting for 1 week (baseline fasting) (BLF); 3) 1 week before Ramadan (non-fasting baseline) (BL); and 4) during the second week of Ramadan while fasting. Plasma leptin and ghrelin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassays at 22:00, 02:00, 04:00, 06:00, and 11:00. During BLF, there were significant reductions in plasma leptin concentrations at 22:00 and 02:00 compared with the baseline concentrations (at 22:00: 194.2±177.2 vs. 146.7±174.5; at 02:00: 203.8±189.5 vs. 168.1±178.1; p<0.05). During Ramadan, there was a significant reduction in plasma leptin levels at 22:00 (194.2±177.2 vs. 132.6±130.4, p<0.05). No significant difference in plasma ghrelin concentrations was detected during the BL, BLF, or Ramadan periods. Cosinor analyses of leptin and ghrelin plasma levels revealed no significant changes in the acrophases of the hormones during the three periods. The nocturnal reduction in plasma leptin levels during fasting may be the result of the changes in meal times during fasting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Fasting / blood*
  • Ghrelin / blood*
  • Humans
  • Islam
  • Leptin / blood*
  • Male
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ghrelin
  • Leptin

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant from the National Plan for Science and Technology, King Saud University, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia (http://npst.ksu.edu.sa/index.php?page_id=101). However, the funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.