Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan does not change the composition of breast milk

Abstract

To determine possible effects of fasting on breast milk composition for Muslim mothers during the holy month of Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A prospective descriptive study.

Muwajihi Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinic, Al-Ain Medical District.

26 healthy nursing mothers were recruited. Their mean age was 27 ± 5 years.

Each mother was seen twice by a physician in the morning at the PHC clinic firstly between the second and fourth weeks of Ramadan and secondly two weeks after the end of Ramadan. Before attending the clinic, the mothers had allowed their babies to suckle. At the first visit, the mother was personally interviewed by the doctor and a sample of breast milk was taken for analysis. A second sample was similarly taken at the second visit after Ramadan. For each sample, total fat, protein, lactose, total solids, non-fat solids, triglycerides and cholesterol were measured.

No significant differences were seen in the content of major nutrients of milk taken during and after Ramadan. There was a slight increase and a slight decrease respectively in the concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol after the end of Ramadan, although these changes were also not significant.

The present study showed that no major changes occur in the composition of human breast milk as a consequence of reverting to a normal alimentary pattern at the end of Ramadan.

Introduction

Sustained fasting over a period of time is or has been a feature of several of the world’s great religions. For Islam, the whole of the holy month of Ramadan is a time of strictly observed fasting during the daylight hours [1]. This month-long regime of intermittent fasting every year is peculiar to Islam and during Ramadan, all healthy adults are obliged to abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is not obligatory for children nor menstruating women and the sick and travelers are also excused. Pregnant and lactating women also usually observe Ramadan fasting although they are permitted to postpone fasting until another month [2]. Because the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian year, Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic Lunar calendar of Hijrah, moves forward about 11 days every year. Ramadan can, therefore, occur in any of the four seasons and the duration of fasting can vary from 11 to 18 hours depending upon the exact time of sunrise and sunset in each country or region [3].

Globally, up to about 800 million Muslims strictly observe Ramadan fasting by going without food and water from sunrise to sunset during the entire month [2], [4]. This pattern of intermittent activity and fasting is different from normal fasting or ongoing food deprivation which has been widely studied [5], [6], [7], [8]. To date only limited studies on the physiological effects of altered activity and feeding schedule associated with Ramadan fasting have been reported [3], [4], [9], [10].

It is well established that breastfeeding of infants is associated with their better biological, psychological and intellectual development [11]. The effects of mothers’ diet on the composition of their milk has been extensively reviewed by Lonnerdal [12], but no studies appear to have been made of the effects of Ramadan fasting on milk components. Therefore, the present study, was initiated to determine whether breast milk composition is altered in mothers observing Ramadan fasting by taking for analysis milk samples during and after the month of Ramadan.