Author/Authors :
Attarzadeh Hosseini ، Seyyed Reza نويسنده Assistant Professor in Sport Physiology Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran , , Sardar، Mohammad Ali نويسنده , , Farahati، Samaneh نويسنده Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran , , Nematy، Mohsen نويسنده Department of Nutrition, Biochemistry of Nutrition, Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Cancer Research Centers, School of Medicine, Mashhad ,
Abstract :
Introduction: Increased levels of certain markers like fibrinogen and Homocysteine are independently
associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Considering the numerous favorable effects of
healthful nutrition and physical activity on reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, in this study we intend to
take into account fasting and physical activity during the month of Ramadan and their impacts on
Homocysteine and fibrinogen concentrations in overweight women.
Methods: In this experiment, 22 overweight and obese women with a body mass index (BMI) of greater
than 25 kg/m² aging from 20 to 45 years were enrolled into two groups by means of targeted?sampling
method. One group involved fasting accompanied with regular physical activity (12 subjects) and the other
group involved only fasting (10 subjects).
The protocol for the physical activity group consisted of three 60?minute sessions of aerobic exercise per
week with a 50% to 65% of heart rate reserve. Towards the end of Ramadan, the anthropometric and blood
levels of Homocysteine and fibrinogen were closely measured. Data were analyzed using repeated
measures and the significance level of P?0/05 was considered.
Results: A month of fasting along with regular physical activity did not prove to have any noticeable effects
on the level of fibrinogen while a significant increase in the Homocysteine levels was discovered (P < 0/05).
Comparing the two protocols lead us to the conclusion that one month of fasting with or without regular
physical activity did not seem to make a noteworthy difference on the levels of fibrinogen and
Homocysteine.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that fasting with or without regular exercise could not
significantly decrease the body fat percentage. Furthermore, it seems that unhealthy and inadequate nutrition
during Ramadan as well as insufficient intensity and duration of exercise are the causes of this fact.
