ABSTRACT
Background: Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a kind of intermittent fasting defined as eating and drinking only during a certain number of hours in a day. It has been suggested that intermittent fasting may improve cardiovascular risk factors. This study evaluated the association of TRF and arterial stiffness, using pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse wave analysis, and arterial age in metabolic syndrome participants. Methods: A cohort study was carried out among metabolic syndrome adults who were followed over the Ramadan fasting period (used as a model of TRF since food was only allowed for about 8 h/day). The subjects were divided into Ramadan fasting and Ramadan nonfasting groups. The aortic PWV and central aortic pressure waveform were measured. Central systolic pressure, central pulse pressure, and indices of arterial compliance, such as augmentation pressure and augmentation index (AIx), were determined from waveform analysis. Results: Ninety-five adults (31.57% female, age: 45.46 ± 9.10 years) with metabolic syndrome (based on the International Diabetes Federation definition) participated in this study. Ramadan fasting and Ramadan nonfasting groups were including 80 and 15 individuals respectively. A significant reduction was seen in PWV (0.29 m/s), central systolic pressure (4.03 mmHg), central pulse pressure (2.43 mmHg), central augmentation pressure (1.88 mmHg), and central AIx (2.47) in the Ramadan fasting group (p = 0.014, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p = 0.036 respectively). There were no significant changes in these indices among the Ramadan nonfasting group. Conclusions: This study suggested that TRF reduces arterial age and improves arterial stiffness among people with metabolic syndrome. This might be considered a beneficial nutrition strategy for extending healthspan (and perhaps longevity).
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: It is believed that Ramadan fasting regulates blood pressure, heart rate, and other cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study was carried out in two groups: one group included hypertensive patients treated with two antihypertensive agents (n=6) and the other group included healthy individuals (n=12). We performed 24-h blood pressure monitoring at four time points: before Ramadan, during the first and last 10 days of Ramadan, and 1 month after Ramadan. All hypertensive patients followed their twice-daily treatment regimen. Mean 24-h blood pressure (as well as mean blood pressure values during awake and sleep periods), body weight, and waist circumference were measured in the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the trends of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the hypertensive and nonhypertensive groups during Ramadan and 1 month after it. However, the trends of variations in heart rate and body weight were not significantly different in the two groups (P<0.001 and P=0.016, respectively). There was a significant increase in heart rate during the first period of Ramadan in hypertensive patients (P=0.018), whereas it improved during the post-Ramadan period in comparison with the second period of measurements (P=0.019). Furthermore, there was a significant decline in heart rate during the post-Ramadan measurement compared with that before Ramadan in the nonhypertensive group (P=0.008).In addition, there was a significant weight gain in the third period in comparison with the previous period in the hypertensive group (73.1±11 vs. 72.2±12; P=0.011). CONCLUSION: This finding indicates that Ramadan fasting might be nonthreatening for patients with essential hypertension if the treatment regimen is complied with.
