Short-Term Effects of Prolonged Fasting on Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Fasting during Ramadan is mandatory for all healthy Muslim adults. During the fasting month, many physiological and biochemical changes occur that may be due to alterations in eating and sleeping patterns. A concern for Muslim multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is whether prolonged fasting might have an unfavorable impact on the course of their disease. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the effects of prolonged intermittent fasting on the course of MS in a cohort of patients who reside in Isfahan, Iran. The cohort consisted of 40 adult MS patients who fasted during Ramadan and 40 MS patients who did not fast. Only patients with mild disability (expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score </=3) were included. All patients were followed for 6 months after Ramadan to assess their EDSS score changes and to record the number of clinical relapses. At the end of the study, no significant changes in EDSS or the frequency of clinical relapses were detected between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). Fasting had no short-term unfavorable effects on the disease course in MS patients with mild disability. However, larger multi-center prospective studies of longer duration are needed to validate the results of this study.