Effects of fasting during Ramadan month on depression, anxiety and stress and cognition

  • Dr Arati Amin Department of Physiology, PK Das Institute of Medical Sciences, Ottapalam, Kerala, India
  • Dr Kumar Sai Sailesh Department of physiology, Little Flower Institute of Medical sciences and Research, Angamaly, India
  • Dr Soumya Mishra Department of Physiology, JIPMER, Pondicherry, India
  • Dr Udaya Kumar Reddy International Stress Management Association, India. (ISMA), India
  • Dr N. Sriram Holy Mary College of Pharmacy, Bogaram, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
  • Dr Mukkadan J K Professor & Research Director, Little Flower Medical Research Centre, Angamaly, Kerala, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2016.i05.18
Keywords: Ramadan, Fasting, Cognition, Depression

Abstract

Objective: The present study was aimed to observe the effect of fasting during the Ramadan month on depression, anxiety and stress scores.

Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy male Muslim students of Little Flower Institute of Medical sciences and Research, with previous fasting experience during Ramadan were selected for the present study by convenience sampling method. Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS 42) was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress. MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) was used to assess cognition.

Results: Depression, anxiety scores significantly decreased on 14th and 28th day when compared with baseline values. Stress scores were decreased significantly on 28th day. Cognition levels were significantly improved followed by fasting in 14th day and 28th day.

Conclusion: In the present study, we have observed positive impact of fasting on depression, anxiety and stress scores and cognitive functions. We recommend further detailed studies including male and female participants and biochemical parameters to investigate other aspects of Ramadan fasting on human stress and cognition.

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CITATION
DOI: 10.17511/ijmrr.2016.i05.18
Published: 2016-05-31
How to Cite
1.
Amin A, Kumar Sai S, Mishra S, Kumar Reddy U, N. S, Mukkadan JK. Effects of fasting during Ramadan month on depression, anxiety and stress and cognition. Int J Med Res Rev [Internet]. 2016May31 [cited 2024Apr.26];4(5):771-4. Available from: https://ijmrr.medresearch.in/index.php/ijmrr/article/view/555
Issue
Vol 4 No 5 (2016): MAY
Section
Original Article