Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2003

Open Access 01-12-2003 | Research article

Effects of Greek orthodox christian church fasting on serum lipids and obesity

Authors: Katerina O Sarri, Nikolaos E Tzanakis, Manolis K Linardakis, George D Mamalakis, Anthony G Kafatos

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2003

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

No study to date has focused on the impact of Greek Orthodox Christian fasting on serum lipoproteins and obesity yet.

Methods

120 Greek adults were followed longitudinally for one year. Sixty fasted regularly in all fasting periods (fasters) and 60 did not fast at all (controls). The three major fasting periods under study were: Christmas (40 days), Lent (48 days) and Assumption (August, 15 days). A total of 6 measurements were made during one year including pre- and end-fasting blood collection, serum lipoprotein analyses and anthropometric measurements.

Results

Statistically significant end-fasting total and LDL cholesterol differences were found in fasters. Fasters compared to controls presented 12.5% lower end-total cholesterol (p < 0.001), 15.9% lower end-LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001) and 1.5% lower end-BMI (p < 0.001). The end- LDL/HDL ratio was lower in fasters (6.5%, p < 0.05) while the change in end- HDL cholesterol in fasters (4.6% decline) was not significant. Similar results were found when the pre- and end-fasting values of fasters were compared. No change was found in control subjects.

Conclusions

Adherence to Greek Orthodox fasting periods contributes to a reduction in the blood lipid profile including a non-significant reduction in HDL cholesterol and possible impact on obesity.
Literature
1.
Shatenstein B, Ghadirian P: Influences on diet, health behaviours and their outcome in select ethnocultural and religious groups. Nutrition. 1998, 14 (2): 223-30. 10.1016/S0899-9007(97)00425-5.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Temizhan A, et al: The effects of Ramadan fasting on blood lipid levels. Am J Med. 2000, 109 (4): 341-2. 10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00498-8.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Adlouni A, et al: Fasting during Ramadan induces a marked increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Ann Nutr Metab. 1997, 41 (4): 242-9.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Maislos M, et al: Marked increase in plasma high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol after prolonged fasting during Ramadan. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993, 57 (5): 640-2.PubMed
5.
Maislos M, et al: Gorging and plasma HDL-cholesterol – the Ramadan model. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1998, 52 (2): 127-30. 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600526.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Akhan G, Kutluhan S, Koyuncuoglu HR: Is there any change of stroke incidence during Ramadan?. Acta Neurol Scand. 2000, 101 (4): 259-61. 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2000.101004259.x.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Temizhan A, et al: Is there any effect of Ramadan fasting on acute coronary heart disease events?. Int J Cardiol. 1999, 70 (2): 149-53. 10.1016/S0167-5273(99)00082-0.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Akanji AO, Mojiminiyi OA, Abdella N: Beneficial changes in serum apo A-1 and its ratio to apo B and HDL in stable hyperlipidaemic subjects after Ramadan fasting in Kuwait. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000, 54 (6): 508-13. 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601047.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Friedlander Y, et al: Coronary heart disease risk factors among religious groupings in a Jewish population sample in Jerusalem. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985, 42 (3): 511-21.PubMed
10.
Friedlander Y, Kark JD, Stein Y: Religious observance and plasma lipids and lipoproteins among 17-year-old Jewish residents of Jerusalem. Prev Med. 1987, 16 (1): 70-9.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Fraser GE: Associations between diet and cancer, ischemic heart disease, and all- cause mortality in non-Hispanic white California Seventh-day Adventists. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999, 70 (3 Suppl): 532S-538S.PubMed
12.
Fraser GE: Diet as primordial prevention in Seventh-Day Adventists. Prev Med. 1999, 29 (6 Pt 2): S18-23. 10.1006/pmed.1998.0415.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Famodu AA, et al: Blood pressure and blood lipid levels among vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and non-vegetarian native Africans. Clin Biochem. 1998, 31 (7): 545-9. 10.1016/S0009-9120(98)00067-8.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Nieman DC, et al: Dietary status of Seventh-Day Adventist vegetarian and non-vegetarian elderly women. J Am Diet Assoc. 1989, 89 (12): 1763-9.PubMed
15.
16.
Kafatos A, et al: Mediterranean diet of Crete: foods and nutrient content. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000, 100 (12): 1487-93. 10.1016/S0002-8223(00)00416-8.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Lohman TG, Roche AF, Mastorell R: Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. 1991
18.
Allain CC, et al: Enzymatic determination of total serum cholesterol. Clin Chem. 1974, 20 (4): 470-5.PubMed
19.
Finley PR, et al: Cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein: use of Mg2+/dextran sulfate in its enzymic measurement. Clin Chem. 1978, 24 (6): 931-3.PubMed
20.
Fossati P, Prencipe L: Serum triglycerides determined colorimetrically with an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. Clin Chem. 1982, 28 (10): 2077-80.PubMed
21.
Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS: Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972, 18 (6): 499-502.PubMed
22.
23.
Reymer PW, et al: Apolipoprotein E genotyping on agarose gels. Clin Chem. 1995, 41 (7): 1046-7.PubMed
24.
Ordovas JM: The genetics of serum lipid responsiveness to dietary interventions. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999, 58 (1): 171-87.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Dreon DM, Krauss RM: Diet-gene interactions in human lipoprotein metabolism. J Am Coll Nutr. 1997, 16 (4): 313-24.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Lopez-Miranda J, et al: Effect of apolipoprotein E phenotype on diet-induced lowering of plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol. J Lipid Res. 1994, 35 (11): 1965-75.PubMed
27.
Miettinen TA, Gylling H, Vanhanen H: Serum cholesterol response to dietary cholesterol and apoprotein E phenotype. Lancet. 1988, 2 (8622): 1261-10.1016/S0140-6736(88)90862-8.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Masarei JR, et al: Vegetarian diets, lipids and cardiovascular risk. Aust N Z J Med. 1984, 14 (4): 400-4.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Masarei JR, et al: Effects of a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet on serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, apoprotein-B, and Lp(a). Am J Clin Nutr. 1984, 40 (3): 468-78.PubMed
30.
Barnard ND, et al: Effectiveness of a low-fat vegetarian diet in altering serum lipids in healthy premenopausal women. Am J Cardiol. 2000, 85 (8): 969-72. 10.1016/S0002-9149(99)00911-X.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Asztalos B, et al: Differential response to low-fat diet between low and normal HDL-cholesterol subjects. J Lipid Res. 2000, 41 (3): 321-8.PubMed
32.
Nicholson AS, et al: Toward improved management of NIDDM: A randomized, controlled, pilot intervention using a lowfat, vegetarian diet. Prev Med. 1999, 29 (2): 87-91. 10.1006/pmed.1999.0529.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Lee HY, et al: Serum fatty acid, lipid profile and dietary intake of Hong Kong Chinese omnivores and vegetarians. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000, 54 (10): 768-73. 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601089.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Hoffmann I, et al: Giessen Wholesome Nutrition Study: relation between a health-conscious diet and blood lipids. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2001, 55 (10): 887-95. 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601243.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Toohey ML, et al: Cardiovascular disease risk factors are lower in African-American vegans compared to lacto-ovo-vegetarians. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998, 17 (5): 425-34.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Wang TD, et al: Efficacy of cholesterol levels and ratios in predicting future coronary heart disease in a Chinese population. Am J Cardiol. 2001, 88 (7): 737-43. 10.1016/S0002-9149(01)01843-4.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Solymoss BC, et al: Relation of coronary artery disease in women < 60 years of age to the combined elevation of serum lipoprotein (a) and total cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio. Am J Cardiol. 1993, 72 (17): 1215-9.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Hong MK, et al: Usefulness of the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in predicting angiographic coronary artery disease in women. Am J Cardiol. 1991, 68 (17): 1646-50.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Price JF, et al: Influence of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and rheological factors on the sex difference in cardiovascular disease. J Cardiovasc Risk. 2000, 7 (1): 49-56.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Onat A, Sansoy V, Uysal O: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in Turkish adults: interrelation with other risk factors and association with cardiovascular disease. Int J Cardiol. 1999, 70 (1): 43-50. 10.1016/S0167-5273(99)00049-2.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Mansfield E, McPherson R, Koski KG: Diet and waist-to-hip ratio: important predictors of lipoprotein levels in sedentary and active young men with no evidence of cardiovascular disease. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999, 99 (11): 1373-9. 10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00335-1.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Perry AC, et al: Clinical predictability of the waist-to-hip ratio in assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight, premenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998, 68 (5): 1022-7.PubMed
43.
Haddad EH, et al: Dietary intake and biochemical, hematologic, and immune status of vegans compared with nonvegetarians. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999, 70 (3 Suppl): 586S-593S.PubMed
44.
Burr ML, Butland BK: Heart disease in British vegetarians. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988, 48 (3 Suppl): 830-2.PubMed
45.
Key TJ, Davey GK, Appleby PN: Health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Proc Nutr Soc. 1999, 58 (2): 271-5.CrossRefPubMed
46.
47.
De Lorenzo A, et al: Effects of weight loss on body composition and pulmonary function. Respiration. 1999, 66 (5): 407-12. 10.1159/000029423.CrossRefPubMed
48.
el Ati J, Beji C, Danguir J: Increased fat oxidation during Ramadan fasting in healthy women: an adaptative mechanism for body-weight maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995, 62 (2): 302-7.PubMed
49.
Verschuren WM, Boerma GJ, Kromhout D: Total and HDL-cholesterol in The Netherlands: 1987–1992. Levels and changes over time in relation to age, gender and educational level. Int J Epidemiol. 1994, 23 (5): 948-56.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Hardarson T, et al: The relationship between educational level and mortality. The Reykjavik Study. J Intern Med. 2001, 249 (6): 495-502. 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00834.x.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Tedesco MA, et al: Educational level and hypertension: how socioeconomic differences condition health care. J Hum Hypertens. 2001, 15 (10): 727-31. 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001249.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Law M: Dietary fat and adult diseases and the implications for childhood nutrition: an epidemiologic approach. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000, 72 (5 Suppl): 1291S-1296S.PubMed
53.
Shahar DR, et al: Seasonal variations in dietary intake affect the consistency of dietary assessment. Eur J Epidemiol. 2001, 17 (2): 129-33. 10.1023/A:1017542928978.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Kafatos A, et al: Heart disease risk-factor status and dietary changes in the Cretan population over the past 30 y: the Seven Countries Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997, 65 (6): 1882-6.PubMed
55.
Panagiotakos DB, et al: The association of Mediterranean diet with lower risk of acute coronary syndromes in hypertensive subjects. Int J Cardiol. 2002, 82 (2): 141-7. 10.1016/S0167-5273(01)00611-8.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Kris-Etherton P, et al: AHA Science Advisory: Lyon Diet Heart Study. Benefits of a Mediterranean-style, National Cholesterol Education Program/American Heart Association Step I Dietary Pattern on Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation. 2001, 103 (13): 1823-5.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Trichopoulou A, Vasilopoulou E: Mediterranean diet and longevity. Br J Nutr. 2000, 84 (Suppl 2): S205-9.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Trichopoulou A, et al: Cancer and Mediterranean dietary traditions. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2000, 9 (9): 869-73.PubMed
59.
Chliaoutakis JE, et al: Greek christian orthodox ecclesiastical lifestyle: could it become a pattern of health-related behavior?. Prev Med. 2002, 34 (4): 428-35. 10.1006/pmed.2001.1001.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Effects of Greek orthodox christian church fasting on serum lipids and obesity
Authors
Katerina O Sarri
Nikolaos E Tzanakis
Manolis K Linardakis
George D Mamalakis
Anthony G Kafatos
Publication date
01-12-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-3-16

Other articles of this Issue 1/2003

BMC Public Health 1/2003 Go to the issue

Research article

Current HIV/AIDS end-of-life care in sub-Saharan Africa: a survey of models, services, challenges and priorities

Research article

Health and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on South African households: a cohort study

Research article

Household item ownership and self-rated health: material and psychosocial explanations

Research article

Is drinking water a risk factor for endemic cryptosporidiosis? A case-control study in the immunocompetent general population of the San Francisco Bay Area

Research article

Attitudes of healthcare workers in U.S. hospitals regarding smallpox vaccination

Research article

Implementing guidelines in primary care: can population impact measures help?