By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kualalumpur: A study by researchers at National Defence University of Malaysia have come to conclusion that fasting during Ramadan has a positive impact on maintenance of glucose homeostasis of young and healthy individuals.
In the study twenty healthy Muslim male in the age range of 19-23 years were subjected to anthropometry (body measurements) and blood testing one week before and during the fourth week of Ramadan.
The researchers found significant decrease in body weight and body mass index among the subjects. The study published in the latest issue of Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders also reported significant decrease in plasma glucose, insulin, and adiponectin. Adiponectin is a hormone that regulates glucose level and fatty acid breakdown.
“The drop in adiponectin was positively correlated with the decrease in body weight. There was also a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in insulin resistance,” researchers wrote in the paper.
Researchers also felt that “caloric restriction during the Ramadan fasting is in itself sufficient to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals.”
To access the paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs40200-015-0183-9