Introduction: The Physiological effects of fasting on athletes have been of an interest to some researchers and different results have also been obtained. In some researches, the effects of weight training and practice in heat on blood factors, fluids and electrolytes were investigated and it was found that the plasma volume was reduced and the concentration of blood and electrolytes were increased. The purpose of this research was to study and compare the effects of weight training on hematological factors among the students of Physical Education in fasting and non- fasting conditions.Materials and Methods: This study is a semi-experimental research. The population of the study includes male physical education students of Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. Having voluntarily completed the initial questionnaire, 15 of the participants were randomly chosen as the statistical sample. Recued tests were taken twice: three days before RAMADAN and in the fourth week of RAMADAN (before and after the exercise sessions).The training protocol included a session of weight training (circuit training). The exercise intensity, time of training and temperature were controlled prior to the exercise sessions. Data analysis was done by using one variable analysis of variance (F test at the alpha level of 5%.Results: A) RAMADAN fasting had no significant effect on the subjects’ body weight, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. B) Training had significant effect on the subjects’ body weight, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells, but had no significant effect on their blood sugar. C) Fasting and training have significant interaction effects on the subjects’ weight, blood sugar, platelets and white blood cells and had no significant effect on the subjects’ hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cells.Conclusion: Training in fasting condition could probably cause some changes in hematological factors due to the reduction of body water, but changes in blood sugar are more obvious.Therefore, to prevent reducing the rate of blood sugar, it is recommended that the intensity of training be less than usual in fasting condition.

Introduction: Fasting during the holy month of RAMADAN is an obligation for all adult, healthy Muslims. As several studies have indicated, both fasting and energy restriction can alter thyroid hormone metabolism and affect the clinical features and well‐being of hypothyroid patients. Hypothyroidism is more prevalent among women and the elderly. Its prevalence has been reported to be 4‐8% of the general population. Despite the large body of animal research on fasting, few human studies have focused on RAMADAN fasting and its impacts on hypothyroid patients.Method: PubMed and Google scholar databases were searched using keywords such as RAMADAN, fasting, hypothyroidism, and food restriction. Animal and human studies, which were highly relevant to the topic, were selected.Results: Four animal and 7 human studies were included in this article. We found that levothyroxine dosage should be increased for hypothyroid patients from the beginning of the month until 15-20 days after the end of RAMADAN. Conclusion: Fasting can change the concentration of thyroid hormones, thyroidstimulating hormone level, and the associated metabolisms both in animals and humans. As the results indicated, hypothyroid individuals, who fast during the month of RAMADAN, particularly women and the elderly, may suffer from thyroid hormone changes. For these patients, levothyroxine dosage should be increased to 25-50 mg/day from the beginning of RAMADAN until 15-20 days after the end of this month. An increased dose of levothyroxine during RAMADAN is recommended for hypothyroid patients, particularly women and the elderly.

It is estimated that there are 1.1–1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, and prevalence of diabetes is approximately 4.6%. Many patients with diabetes insist on fasting during RAMADAN, thereby creates a medical challenge for themselves and their physicians. These patients are susceptible to diabetic complications such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. It is therefore important that medical professionals be aware of potential risks that may be associated with fasting during RAMADAN. Patients who insist on RAMADAN fasting be assessed before RAMADAN and receive appropriate education and instructions related to physical activity, meal planning, glucose monitoring, and dosage and timing of medications. In this article, management of diabetes in RAMADAN is discussed.

Objective (s): The effect of RAMADAN fasting on diabetes control is not clear yet. Some lifestyle changes like changes in drug dose and time, sleep wake cycle, physical activity and diet occur in RAMADAN and can lead to metabolic imbalances. As such some studies have shown increased risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. So, it is necessary to make decision based on scientific evidences about safety and allowing fasting in a wide variety of patients on different stages of metabolic control. Moreover, appropriate changes in drug prescription should be recognized and used. In this review the results of various studies regarding the effects of RAMADAN fasting on metabolic control of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus have been summarized and provided.Method: Keywords including "RAMADAN", "RAMADAN Fasting", "Islamic Fasting", Fasting in RAMADAN ", Calorie Restriction, Fasting and Starvation with words Diabetes Mellitus, Hyperglycemia, Hypoglycemia, Ketoacidosis, Glucose were searched via PubMed, SID (Scientific Information Database), and some regional journals and all articles (descriptive cross - sectional, cohort, clinical trial and review articles) from 1957 to 2010. The relevant articles were reviewed.Results: In all 86 papers were included in this review. In diabetic patients safety of RAMADAN fasting is defined as blood glucose in normal range. In type 2 diabetics with no chronic complication and able to self care, with proper training, planning the time and dose of drug, controlling of diet and physical activity and regular monitoring of blood glucose, fasting is allowed. In type 1 diabetics or insulin users, fasting should be allowed with caution, because, they are more at risk of hypoglycemia.Conclusion: Diabetic patients who wish to fast in RAMADAN need to care about time, type and dose of their medications.

RAMADAN defines a month-long (29– 30 day) obligatory fasting for all healthy Muslims. The length of fasting is dependent on one’ s geographic location (at some parts of the world the fasting duration can last for up to 18 hours). In this holy month followers must abstain from eating and drinking between dawn and sunset, and must also abstain from using oral medications and smoking. However, exemptions exist for subjects with medical conditions, including diabetes and pregnancy (1)...

Introduction: RAMADAN is a special period of year that any Moslem had to go during fasting for one month. In healthy state there is a balance between psychic and bodily structure which is specific to each individual that distinct him from other people. Many researchers believed that neuroendocrine system maintain such balances. In this paper we have studied situation of neuroendocrin function in the pattern of cortisol secretion in RAMADAN.Method & material: With above data we have selected 112 volunteers (80 mail & 32 female) after one month fasting in point's of cortisol circadian rhythm, and the results were compared to 8 patients with Cushing syndrome. We have checked these volunteers as the below: Weight, Height, Morning& Evening serum cortisol, CBC and 2mg Dexamethazone test (2mg every 6 house for 6 doses).Results: Although fasting during RAMADAN did not promote obesity in healthy peoples, But in 20 volunteers, we found that evening cortisol raised to 18 mcg/dl it, that is not a serious problem and we think that this is an adaptation phenomenon.Conclusion: Since the endocrine system, which has broad-spectrum effects, control cellular and skeletal actions, the soundness of neuroendocrine system will be provided trough parasympathetic nerve (to control cathecoJamines, hypothalamohypophysis, endorphins and enkephalin) so we believed that this cortisol changes is due to adaptation phenomena to control emaciation in fasting people.

The objective of this article is to review important changes which may occur during Islamic fasting in diabetic patients and the safety of fasting during the Islamic month of RAMADAN for diabetics. Despite diverse findings regarding the physiological impact of RAMADAN on diabetics, researchers have not yet found, in the diabetics who fast, any pathological changes in body weight, blood glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide, insulin, fructosamine, cholesterol, or triglycerides. In the guidelines section of the article, we recommend that diabetic patients continue their regular daily activity and diet regimen. It is also critical that diabetics adjust their drug regimen, particularly those diagnosed as type 1 diabetes mellitus. These three important factors, i.e. drug regimen adjustment, diet control, and daily activity constitute the “RAMADAN 3D Triangle”. With 3D attention, proper education, and diabetes management, we conclude that most type 2 and some type 1 diabetic patients who insist on fasting can carefully observe RAMADAN.