Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Dyspepsia Symptoms

Abstract

Background:
A few studies have shown that during Ramadan, gastrin, pepsin, and acid secretion are increased and some changes in nutrition of fasting people may deteriorate dyspepsia symptoms. On the other hand stopping smoking and alcohol use and probable psychosocial
factors may improve dyspepsia symptoms.

Materials and Methods:
The patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia were enrolled in the study during one month before Ramadan and were followed up during and after Ramadan month. The dyspepsia questionnaires including “The Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (LDQ)” were filled by the patients in three consecutive months. After collecting data they were divided to two groups of fasting and non-fasting and compared using SPSS software.

Results:
71 patients finished all three follow up visits (31 fasting and 40 non-fasting). The decreases in LDQ score have been less from before Ramadan to Ramadan and more from Ramadan to after Ramadan in fasting compared with non-fasting groups, but these changes were not significant (p> 0.05). Comparing fasting and non-fasting patients, there were not significant differences in score change from before Ramadan to Ramadan or Ramadan to after Ramadan months regarding general satisfaction and various dyspepsia symptoms (p > 0.05) except for epigastric discomfort after meal that was more in fasting group from before Ramadan to Ramadan (p =0.004).

Conclusion:
Ramadan fasting has no effects on various dyspepsia symptoms except for epigastric discomfort after meal, which is aggravated.
We recommend that patients with dyspepsia can fast during Ramadan but they are advised not to consume large-volume meals in Iftar and Suhur.