Influence of Ramadan on Neuroperformance in Healthy Workers
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background - During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. In 2012, Ramadan took place during summer, with fasting periods up to 19 hours. Previous studies have reported delays in sleeping and waking time and consequently decreased daytime alertness. Nevertheless, data on the effects of Ramadan on neuroperformance are scarce.
Aims - We investigated the impact of Ramadan on tiredness and neuroperformance in Belgian Muslims.
Methods - 20 Subjects were tested outside of Ramadan, halfway the Ramadan and in the last week of the Ramadan. Tiredness was assessed with the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and alertness with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Neuroperformance was tested with the simple reaction time for reaction time (REA-t) and concentration (REA-sd), symbol digit substitution for visual perception (SDS), digit span backwards for short term memory (DSB) and hand-eye coordination test (EYE).
Results - Ramadan had no effect on FAS. SSS increased during Ramadan, but remained within normal physiological boundaries. There was no significant effect on REA-t and SDS. Ramadan had beneficiary effects on REA-sd, DSB and EYE. There were no correlations between FAS or SSS and other neuroperformance parameters.Conclusion - Daytime sleepiness moderately increases during Ramadan. Neuroperformance remains mostly unaffected. Concentration improved during Ramadan, but we observed are large interindividual differences.
Article Details
How to Cite
MERTENS, An; MARTIJN, Schouteden; GODDERIS, Lode.
Influence of Ramadan on Neuroperformance in Healthy Workers.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], n. 3, june 2015.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/194>. Date accessed: 15 dec. 2024.
Keywords
ramadan; fasting; cognitive function; vigilance; sleepiness
Issue
Section
Research Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
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Herscovitch J, Broughton R. 1981. “Sensitivity of the Stanford Sleepiness Scale to the Effects of Cumulative Partial Sleep Deprivation and Recovery Oversleeping.” Sleep 4:83-92.
Hoddes E, Zarcone V, Smythe H, Phillips R, Dement WC. 1973. “Quantification of sleepiness: a new approach.” Psychophysiology 10:431–437.
Jewett ME, Dijk DJ, Kronauer RE, Dinges DF. 1999. “Dose-response Relationship between Sleep Duration and Human Psychomotor Vigilance and Subjective Alertness.” Sleep 22:171-178.
Lotfi S, Madani M, Tazi A, Boumahmaza M, Talbi M. 2010. “Variation des Fonctions Cognitives et de la Glycémie lors de l'Exercice Physique durant le Jeûne du Mois de Ramadan.” Revue Neurologique 166:721-726.
Michielsen HJ, De Vries J, Van Heck GL, Van de Vijver FJR, Sijtsma K. 2004. “Examination of the dimensionality of fatigue: The Construction of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS).” Eur J Psy Assess 20:39–48. doi:10.1027/1015-5759.20.1.39
Roky R, Chapotot F, Denchekoun MT, Benaji B, Hakkou F, Elkhalifi H, Buguet A. 2003. “Daytime Sleepiness during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting: Polysomnographic and Quantitative Waking EEG Study.” J Sleep Res 12:95-101.
Roky R, Chapotot F, Hakkou F, Benchekroun MT, Buguet A. 2001. “Sleep during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” J Sleep Res 10:319-327.
Roky R, Houti I, Moussamih S, Qotbi S, Aadil N. 2004. “Physiological and Chronobiological Changes during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” Ann Nutr Metab 48:296-303.
Roky R, Iraki L, HajKhlifa R, Ghazal NL, Hakkou F. 2000. “Daytime alertness, Mood, Psychomotor Performances, and Oral Temperature during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” Ann Nutr Metab 44:101-107.
Tian H, Aziz AR, Png W, Wahid MF, Yeo D, Png AC. 2011. “Effects of Fasting During Ramadan Month on Cognitive Function in Muslim Athletes.” Asian J Sports Med 2:145-153.
Waterhouse J, Alkib L, Reilly T. 2008. “Effects of Ramadan upon Fluid and Food Intake, Fatigue, and Physical, Mental, and Social Activities: a Comparison between the UK and Libya.” Chronobiology International 25:697-724.
Zerguini Y, Dvorak J, Maughan RJ, Leiper JB, Bartagi Z, Kirkendall DT, Al-Riyami M, Junge A. 2008. “Influence of Ramadan Fasting on Physiological and Performance Variables in Football Players: Summary of the F-MARC 2006 Ramadan Fasting Study.” J Sports Sciences 26 suppl.3:S3-S6.
Ziaee V, Razaei M, Ahmadinejad Z, Shaikg H, Yousefi R, Yarmohammadi L, Bozorgi F, Behjati MJ. 2006. “The Changes of Metabolic Profile and Weight during Ramadan Fasting.” Singapore Med J 47:409-41
BaHammam A. 2006. “Does Ramadan fasting affect sleep?” Int J Clin Pract 60:1631-1637.
BaHammam A, Alrajeh M, Albabtain M, Bahammam S, Shariff M. 2010. “Circadian Pattern of Sleep, Energy Expenditure, and Body Temperature of Young Healthy Men during the Intermittent Fasting of Ramadan.” Appetite 54:426-429.
Bultereys S, Viaene MK. 1994. “The Development of a Screening Test for the Neuropsychological Evaluation of Solvent-Exposed Workers.” Paper presented at the 5th International Symposium on Neurobehavioral Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental Health, Cairo, December 3-7.
Danker-Hopfe H, Kraemer S, Dorn H, Schmidt A, Ehlert I, Herrman WM. 2001. “Time-of-Day Variations in Different Measures of Sleepiness (MSLT, Pupillography and SSS) and their Interrelations.” Psychophysiology 38:828-835.
Dolu N, Yüksek A, Sizer A, Alay M. 2007. “Arousal and Continuous Attention during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” Journal of Basic & Clinical Physiology & Pharmacology 18:315- 322.
Doniger GM, Simos ES. 2006. “Comprehensive Computerizes Assessment of Cognitive Sequellae of a Complete 12-16 Hour Fast.” Behavioural Neuroscience 120:804-816.
Godderis L, Maertens N, de Gelder V, De Lamper A, De Ruyck K, Vernimmen M, Bulterys S, Moens G, Thierens H, Viaene MK. 2010. “Genetic susceptibility in solvent induced neurobehavioral effects.” Neurotox Res 17:268-78. doi:10.1007/s12640-009-9100-7.
Halyburton AK, Brinkworth GD, Wilson CJ, Noakes M, Buckley JD, Kogh JB, Clifton PM. 2007. “Low and High-Carbohydrate Weight-loss Diets have Similar Effects on Mood but not Cognitive Performance.” Am J Clin Nutr 86:580-587.
Herscovitch J, Broughton R. 1981. “Sensitivity of the Stanford Sleepiness Scale to the Effects of Cumulative Partial Sleep Deprivation and Recovery Oversleeping.” Sleep 4:83-92.
Hoddes E, Zarcone V, Smythe H, Phillips R, Dement WC. 1973. “Quantification of sleepiness: a new approach.” Psychophysiology 10:431–437.
Jewett ME, Dijk DJ, Kronauer RE, Dinges DF. 1999. “Dose-response Relationship between Sleep Duration and Human Psychomotor Vigilance and Subjective Alertness.” Sleep 22:171-178.
Lotfi S, Madani M, Tazi A, Boumahmaza M, Talbi M. 2010. “Variation des Fonctions Cognitives et de la Glycémie lors de l'Exercice Physique durant le Jeûne du Mois de Ramadan.” Revue Neurologique 166:721-726.
Michielsen HJ, De Vries J, Van Heck GL, Van de Vijver FJR, Sijtsma K. 2004. “Examination of the dimensionality of fatigue: The Construction of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS).” Eur J Psy Assess 20:39–48. doi:10.1027/1015-5759.20.1.39
Roky R, Chapotot F, Denchekoun MT, Benaji B, Hakkou F, Elkhalifi H, Buguet A. 2003. “Daytime Sleepiness during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting: Polysomnographic and Quantitative Waking EEG Study.” J Sleep Res 12:95-101.
Roky R, Chapotot F, Hakkou F, Benchekroun MT, Buguet A. 2001. “Sleep during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” J Sleep Res 10:319-327.
Roky R, Houti I, Moussamih S, Qotbi S, Aadil N. 2004. “Physiological and Chronobiological Changes during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” Ann Nutr Metab 48:296-303.
Roky R, Iraki L, HajKhlifa R, Ghazal NL, Hakkou F. 2000. “Daytime alertness, Mood, Psychomotor Performances, and Oral Temperature during Ramadan Intermittent Fasting.” Ann Nutr Metab 44:101-107.
Tian H, Aziz AR, Png W, Wahid MF, Yeo D, Png AC. 2011. “Effects of Fasting During Ramadan Month on Cognitive Function in Muslim Athletes.” Asian J Sports Med 2:145-153.
Waterhouse J, Alkib L, Reilly T. 2008. “Effects of Ramadan upon Fluid and Food Intake, Fatigue, and Physical, Mental, and Social Activities: a Comparison between the UK and Libya.” Chronobiology International 25:697-724.
Zerguini Y, Dvorak J, Maughan RJ, Leiper JB, Bartagi Z, Kirkendall DT, Al-Riyami M, Junge A. 2008. “Influence of Ramadan Fasting on Physiological and Performance Variables in Football Players: Summary of the F-MARC 2006 Ramadan Fasting Study.” J Sports Sciences 26 suppl.3:S3-S6.
Ziaee V, Razaei M, Ahmadinejad Z, Shaikg H, Yousefi R, Yarmohammadi L, Bozorgi F, Behjati MJ. 2006. “The Changes of Metabolic Profile and Weight during Ramadan Fasting.” Singapore Med J 47:409-41