Ramadan-specific nutrition education improves cardio-metabolic health and inflammation—a prospective nutrition intervention study from Pakistan
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2023
Abstract:
There are recent reports that Ramadan fasting (RF) results in weight gain instead
of weight loss. In addition, the data on the efficacy of brief nutrition education
on healthy eating practices in Ramadan for better health are scarce. Therefore, a
study was conducted to investigate the effects of brief nutrition education before
the start of RF on healthy eating practices during RF. For this purpose, a prospective
observational study focused on “Dietary Education and Awareness for Ramadan
(DEAR)” as an intervention was carried out. The participants (n = 74) were recruited
and divided into two groups, i.e., intervention and control groups (n = 37 each).
As an intervention, nutrition education lessons were given before and during RF
month. The control group did not attend these nutrition education lessons. Data
on anthropometrics, dietary intake, and other parameters were collected at three
time points: before, in the end, and 4 weeks after RF. Weight was measured in kg;
height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured
in cm; and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was
calculated by dividing the waist value by the hip value. Body composition analysis
was performed by the body composition analyzer (BF-907). Blood pressure (BP)
was measured using a validated automated blood pressure. A 3–5 ml of venous
blood was collected, and plasma and serum were separated. Serum and plasma
samples were processed for general blood chemistry (blood lipid profile, glucose,
and CRP) within 2 h. CRP was determined by the immunoturbidimetry method using
an auto-analyzer. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to
determine cytokine/chemokines. Adherence to nutrition education (intervention)
was assessed. The results show that nutrition education has positive effects on
overall nutrition. Significant improvement in dietary adherence to dietary advice
in the intervention group was noted. Significant BW loss (mean loss: 1.21 kg) in
the intervention group was observed. The majority (63.3%) had lost BW ≥ 1.0 kg.
Other changes observed as a result of the intervention included improvements in
blood glucose, cholesterol, CRP levels, and systolic and diastolic BP. There was
a notable shift in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations: IL-7, IL-4, and TGF-α decreased, while IL-2, TNF-α and resistin, IL-1 RA, IL-17 A, and sCD40 increased. In conclusion, RF resulted in a loss in mean BW and an improvement in related blood chemistry and cytokine profiles. Furthermore, nutrition education before RF resulted in better nutrition practices during RF and a desirable healthy BW, blood lipid, and cytokine profiles.
Tipologia CRIS:
1.1 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
DEAR, PDGN, inflammatory cytokine, CRP, Ramadan fasting, NEAT
Elenco autori:
Gul, Rahmat; Khan, Imran; Alam, Iftikhar; Almajwal, Ali; Hussain, Imtiaz; Sohail, Namrah; Hussain, Muhammad; Cena, Hellas; Shafiq, Sunara; Aftab, Anam
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