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Effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on leptin and adiponectin: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

Ramadan intermittent fasting may affect whole-body metabolism by affecting appetite-related hormones. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the possible effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on the main hormones regulating appetite and satiety, including leptin and adiponectin.

Methods

All English language papers in the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched using the keywords “Ramadan fasting”, “adiponectin”, and “leptin”, up to 2020. Data extraction was conducted based on the main data of the studies; the primary outcomes of the analysis were mean changes of adiponectin and leptin levels during the holy month of Ramadan in fasted subjects.

Main results

Data of 16 eligible studies, conducted between 2003 and 2020, were included in the systematic review. Of these, 10 studies with complete data on leptin and adiponectin were included in the meta-analysis. A significant decrease in leptin levels was observed after Ramadan fasting (WMD = −2.28 ng/ml, 95% CI = −3.72, −0.84). Ramadan fasting had no significant effect on adiponectin levels (WMD = 2.19 ng/ml, 95% CI = −0.29, 4.67). Sub-group analysis demonstrated a greater decrease in leptin levels among normal-weight subjects compared to those of overweight/obese subjects (WMD = −4.67 ng/ml, 95% CI = −6.03, −3.31 vs. WMD = −3.43 ng/ml, 95% CI = −5.69, −1.17).

Conclusion

Ramadan fasting may decrease leptin levels, especially in normal-weight subjects. There was high heterogeneity, which may be explained by the differences between the wide ranges of study conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

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Funding

This work was not supported by any funding agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19395-4763, No. 24, Shahid-Erabi St., Yeman St., Velenjak, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Gaeini & Zahra Bahadoran

  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Human Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Parvin Mirmiran

Authors
  1. Zahra Gaeini
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  2. Parvin Mirmiran
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  3. Zahra Bahadoran
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Contributions

ZG designed the study. ZB and PM collected data from studies, ZG and PM reviewed the studies and wrote the manuscript, and ZG and ZB corrected the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Parvin Mirmiran or Zahra Bahadoran.

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The study protocol was approved by the ethics research council of the Research Institute for Endocrine Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science in Tehran.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Gaeini, Z., Mirmiran, P. & Bahadoran, Z. Effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on leptin and adiponectin: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hormones 20, 237–246 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-021-00285-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-021-00285-3

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