Dietary intake and nutritional status of Turkish pregnant women during Ramadan

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Ramadan fasting on dietary intakes, nutritional status and biochemical parameters of Turkish pregnant women.

METHODS: We carried out this study at Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Care and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from October 15th to November 13th 2004. Forty-nine fasting group and 49 non-fasting group (control group) voluntarily enrolled for the study. We analyzed the blood biochemical parameters of pregnant women and obtained the dietary intakes from the groups.

RESULTS: Compared to the control group, weight gain and energy intake (p<0.05 for second and third trimesters) was less in the fasting group. The percentage of protein (p<0.05 for first and second trimesters) and carbohydrates (p<0.05 for all trimesters) from total energy was higher in the fasting group than in the control group. We noticed a slight increase in the fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides (p<0.05 for first trimester) concentrations in the fasting group during Ramadan. However, we found decreased levels in the plasma urea, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total protein and albumin levels of the fasting group in comparison with the control group. Dietary mineral and vitamin intakes were lower than the recommended daily allowance, except vitamin A and vitamin C in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study, Ramadan fasting had no significant adverse effect on the health of pregnant women.