scholarly journals Energy Metabolism and Intermittent Fasting: The Ramadan Perspective

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Lessan ◽  
Tomader Ali

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been gaining popularity as a means of losing weight. The Ramadan fast (RF) is a form of IF practiced by millions of adult Muslims globally for a whole lunar month every year. It entails a major shift from normal eating patterns to exclusive nocturnal eating. RF is a state of intermittent liver glycogen depletion and repletion. The earlier (morning) part of the fasting day is marked by dominance of carbohydrate as the main fuel, but lipid becomes more important towards the afternoon and as the time for breaking the fast at sunset (iftar) gets closer. The practice of observing Ramadan fasting is accompanied by changes in sleeping and activity patterns, as well as circadian rhythms of hormones including cortisol, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, growth hormone, prolactin, sex hormones, and adiponectin. Few studies have investigated energy expenditure in the context of RF including resting metabolic rate (RMR) and total energy expenditure (TEE) and found no significant changes with RF. Changes in activity and sleeping patterns however do occur and are different from non-Ramadan days. Weight changes in the context of Ramadan fast are variable and typically modest with wise inter-individual variation. As well as its direct relevance to many religious observers, understanding intermittent fasting may have implications on weight loss strategies with even broader potential implications. This review examines current knowledge on different aspects of energy balance in RF, as a common model to learn from and also map out strategies for healthier outcomes in such settings.

1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Singh ◽  
A. M. Prentice ◽  
E. Diaz ◽  
W.A. Coward ◽  
J. Ashford ◽  
...  

The doubly-labelled water (2H218O) method was used to measure total energy expenditure (TEE) in ten non-pregnant, non-lactating (NPNL), six pregnant (P) and fourteen lactating (L) women in a rural Gambian community. Measurements were made on free-living subjects at a period of peak energetic stress when high agricultural work loads coincided with a hungry season to induce moderately severe negative energy balance. TEE averaged 10.42 (SD 2.08) MJ/d, equivalent to 1.95 (SD 0.38) times resting metabolic rate (RMR). The energy cost of physical activity plus thermogenesis, derived as TEE – RMR, averaged 4.94 (SD 1.96) MJ/d. Expressed per kg body-weight (103 kJ/kg per d) this component of expenditure was 2.5 times greater than comparative values from inactive, affluent women studied previously (39 kJ/kg per d). Estimated energy intake (EI) in a subset of the women (n 13) was only 4.80 (SD 1.58) MJ/d, yielding an apparent deficit of 6.08 MJ/d between EI and TEE. Weight changes suggested that endogenous fat oxidation accounted for only about 0.85 MJ/d, leaving an unexplained difference of over 5 MJ/d. Critical analysis of possible errors suggests that the new doubly-labelled water method has provided the most reliable estimates and that the estimates of EI were substantially in error. This finding has important consequences for other food intake studies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s1) ◽  
pp. S48-S52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Gao ◽  
Haichun Sun ◽  
Jie Zhuang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Lynda Ransdell ◽  
...  

Background:This study determined the metabolic equivalents (METs) of several activities typically performed by Chinese youth.Methods:Thirty youth (12 years) performed 7 activities that reflected their daily activities while Energy Expenditure (EE) was measured in a metabolic chamber.Results:METs were calculated as activity EE divided by participant’s measured resting metabolic rate. A MET value ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 was obtained for sleeping, watching TV, playing computer games, reading and doing homework. Performing radio gymnastics had a MET value of 2.9. Jumping rope at low effort required 3.1 METs. Except for watching TV, METs for other activities in this study were lower than Youth Compendium values.Conclusions:The results provide empirical evidence for more accurately assessing EE of activities commonly performed by Chinese youth. This is the first study to determine METs for radio gymnastics and jump rope in Chinese youth.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Thielecke ◽  
J. Möseneder ◽  
A. Kroke ◽  
K. Klipstein-Grobusch ◽  
H. Boeing ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jingjing Xue ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Rou Wen ◽  
Ping Hong

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the published prediction equations for determining level overground walking energy cost in young adults. Methods: In total, 148 healthy young adults volunteered to participate in this study. Resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure variables at speeds of 4, 5, and 6 km/h were measured by indirect calorimetry, walking energy expenditure was estimated by 3 published equations. Results: The gross and net metabolic rate per mile of level overground walking increased with increased speed (all P < .01). Females were less economical than males. The present findings revealed that the American College of Sports Medicine and Pandolf et al equations significantly underestimated the energy cost of overground walking at all speeds (all P < .01) in young adults. The percentage mean bias for American College of Sports Medicine, Pandolf et al, and Weyand et al was 12.4%, 16.8%, 1.4% (4 km/h); 21.6%, 15.8%, 7.1% (5 km/h); and 27.6%, 12%, 6.6% (6 km/h). Bland–Altman plots and prediction error analysis showed that the Weyand et al was the most accurate in 3 existing equations. Conclusions: The Weyand et al equation appears to be the most suitable for the prediction of overground walking energy expenditure in young adults.


2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1357-1364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise C. Mâsse ◽  
Janet E. Fulton ◽  
Kathleen L. Watson ◽  
Matthew T. Mahar ◽  
Michael C. Meyers ◽  
...  

This study investigated the influence of two approaches (mathematical transformation and statistical procedures), used to account for body composition [body mass or fat-free mass (FFM)], on associations between two measures of physical activity and energy expenditure determined by doubly labeled water (DLW). Complete data for these analyses were available for 136 African American (44.1%) and Hispanic (55.9%) women (mean age 50 ± 7.3 yr). Total energy expenditure (TEE) by DLW was measured over 14 days. Physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) was computed as 0.90 × TEE - resting metabolic rate. During week 2, participants wore an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days and completed a 7-day diary. Pearson's product-moment correlations and three statistical procedures (multiple regressions, partial correlations, and allometric scaling) were used to assess the effect of body composition on associations. The methods-comparison analysis was used to study the effect of body composition on agreement. The statistical procedures demonstrated that associations improved when body composition was included in the model. The accelerometer explained a small but meaningful portion of the variance in TEE and PAEE after body mass was accounted for. The methods-comparison analysis confirmed that agreement with DLW was affected by the transformation. Agreement between the diary (transformed with body mass) and TEE reflected the association that exists between body mass and TEE. These results suggest that the accelerometer and diary accounted for a small portion of TEE and PAEE. Most of the variance in DLW-measured energy expenditure was explained by body mass or FFM.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (6) ◽  
pp. E789-E794 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Saad ◽  
S. A. Alger ◽  
F. Zurlo ◽  
J. B. Young ◽  
C. Bogardus ◽  
...  

The impact of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity on energy expenditure (EE) was evaluated in nondiabetic Caucasian and Pima Indian men while on a weight-maintenance diet using two approaches as follows. 1) The relationship between 24-h EE, measured in a respiratory chamber, and 24-h urinary norepinephrine was studied in 36 Caucasians [32 +/- 8 (SD) yr, 95 +/- 41 kg, 22 +/- 13% fat] and 33 Pimas (29 +/- 6 yr, 103 +/- 28 kg, 30 +/- 9% fat). There was no difference between the two groups in 24-h EE (2,422 vs. 2,523 kcal/24 h) and in urinary norepinephrine (28 vs. 31 micrograms/24 h), even after adjusting for body size and composition. Twenty-four-hour EE correlated significantly with 24-h urinary norepinephrine in Caucasians (r = 0.78, P less than 0.001) but not in Pimas (r = 0.03), independent of fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass, and age. 2) The effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol (120 micrograms/kg FFM bolus and 1.2 micrograms.kg FFM-1.min-1 for 45 min) on the resting metabolic rate (RMR) was evaluated in 36 Caucasians (30 +/- 6 yr, 103 +/- 36 kg, 25 +/- 11% fat) and 32 Pimas (28 +/- 6 yr, 100 +/- 34 kg, 27 +/- 10% fat). The RMR was similar in the two groups (2,052 vs. 1,973 kcal/24 h) even after adjustment for FFM, fat mass, and age and dropped significantly after propranolol infusion in Caucasians (-3.9%, P less than 0.001) but not in Pimas (-0.8%, P = 0.07).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Duygu Ağagündüz ◽  
Nilüfer Acar-Tek ◽  
Osman Bozkurt

Objective. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of intermittent fasting of Ramadan on resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and nutritional status. Methods. The study was conducted on a total of 27 adults (16 females, 11 males) who were fasting (18 h) in the Ramadan month (May 6–June 3) of 2019. REE was measured using the indirect calorimeter. Dietary energy and nutrient intakes were evaluated by 3-day food records in baseline and post-Ramadan. Body composition and some metabolic parameters were analyzed simultaneously with REE measurements. All measurements were performed two times at baseline, and post-Ramadan. Results. Body weight (−2.9% vs. −1.4%), body mass index (BMI) (−3.1% vs. −2.1%), fat-free mass (−2.7% vs. −1.4%), and hydration status were decreased in both males and females after the Ramadan fasting ( p < 0.05 ). REEs (kcal/d) of the participants were 1708.1 ± 262.50 kcal/d and 1596.5 ± 302.27 kcal/d at baseline and post-Ramadan, respectively (6.5%) ( p < 0.05 ). This decrease in REE (kcal/d) in females was greater than that in males (−8.1% vs. −4.6%). However, no statistically significant difference was found in sleep duration (h), physical activity levels, dietary energy and nutrient intakes, and blood pressures (mm Hg) of both genders compared to baseline ( p > 0.05 ). Conclusion. Intermittent circadian fasting may lead to a decreased energy expenditure and a change in fat-free mass in healthy individuals, and this effect is interpreted as gender-dependent.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3394
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Purcell ◽  
Ryan J. Marker ◽  
Marc-Andre Cornier ◽  
Edward L. Melanson

Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) gain fat mass and lose fat-free mass during treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) and estrogen suppression therapy, which increases the risk of developing comorbidities. Whether these body composition alterations are a result of changes in dietary intake, energy expenditure, or both is unclear. Thus, we reviewed studies that have measured components of energy balance in BCS who have completed treatment. Longitudinal studies suggest that BCS reduce self-reported energy intake and increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Although some evidence suggests that resting metabolic rate is higher in BCS than in age-matched controls, no study has measured total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in this population. Whether physical activity levels are altered in BCS is unclear, but evidence suggests that light-intensity physical activity is lower in BCS compared to age-matched controls. We also discuss the mechanisms through which estrogen suppression may impact energy balance and develop a theoretical framework of dietary intake and TDEE interactions in BCS. Preclinical and human experimental studies indicate that estrogen suppression likely elicits increased energy intake and decreased TDEE, although this has not been systematically investigated in BCS specifically. Estrogen suppression may modulate energy balance via alterations in appetite, fat-free mass, resting metabolic rate, and physical activity. There are several potential areas for future mechanistic energetic research in BCS (e.g., characterizing predictors of intervention response, appetite, dynamic changes in energy balance, and differences in cancer sub-types) that would ultimately support the development of more targeted and personalized behavioral interventions.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (4) ◽  
pp. R572-R577 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Yang ◽  
R. L. Hammer ◽  
T. L. Sellers ◽  
J. Arogyasami ◽  
D. T. Carrell ◽  
...  

Sham-operated (SHAM) and saline (ADM-S)- or epinephrine (ADM-E)-infused adrenodemedullated rats were run on a treadmill (21 m/min, 15% grade) for 80 min or until exhaustion. ADM-S rats had significantly lower endurance run times (116 +/- 6 min) than ADM-E rats (136 +/- 8 min) and SHAM rats (150 +/- 6 min). Liver glycogen content dropped from 56 +/- 4 to 10 +/- 2 mg/g in SHAM and from 54 +/- 4 to 18 +/- 5 mg/g in ADM-S and to 20 +/- 8 mg/g in ADM-E rats at 80 min. Liver glycogen was depleted in all rats at exhaustion. Liver fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was decreased markedly in exercising rats, and the extent of decrease was not influenced by adrenodemedullation or by epinephrine infusion. ADM-S rats showed impaired glycogen depletion in the white vastus lateralis and soleus muscles, hypoglycemia, and low blood lactate at 80 min and at exhaustion. Infusion of epinephrine into ADM rats reversed these deficiencies. These data indicate that the adrenal medulla is unessential for normal endurance exercise as long as liver glycogen is available. After liver glycogen is depleted, epinephrine from the adrenal medulla prevents hypoglycemia and is essential for allowing continuation of exercise.


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