Table 2.
Changes in parameters over time.
| Parameter | 2–4 weeks before fasting (T0) | Minimum 14 days of fasting (T1) | 4 weeks after fasting (T2) | P value (T0-T1) | P value (T1-T2) | P value (T0-T2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fetuin-A (mg/ml) | 5.35 (2.91–7.81) | 3.68 (2.33–5.89) | 3.22 (2.35–5.60) | 0.217 | 0.637 | 0.039 |
| Body weight (kg) | 65.41 (11.46) | 64.13 (11.30) | 65.66 (11.95) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.375 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.77 (4.52) | 26,24 (4.42) | 26.76 (4.65) | <0.001 | 0.985 | <0.001 |
| FBG (mg/dl) | 150 (114–195) | 131 (104–165) | 154 (124–194) | 0.013∗ | 0.003 | 0.519 |
| HbA1C (%) | 8.1 (6.85–10.5) | 7.9 (6.85–9.40) | 8 (6.85–8.95) | 0.004 | <0.001 | 0.366 |
Abbreviations: SD: standard deviation; BMI: Body Mass Index; FBG: Fasting Blood Glucose; HbA1C: Haemoglobin A1C.
Data for T0, T1, and T2 are presented as mean (SD) for normal data distribution, or median (minimum-maximum) for non-normal data distribution.
Analysis: paired t-test.
The reduction of Fetuin A level after 14 days of fasting was in line with a parallel significant decrease of body weight (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), FBG (p = 0.013), and HbA1c (p = 0.004). However, four weeks after the end of Ramadan, in contrast to the further reduction we observed in the Fetuin A level, all of those metabolic and clinical parameters rebounded to their baseline levels.
∗
Wilcoxon test.