Sleep during Ramadan intermittent fasting

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Chronobiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Intermittent fasting during Ramadan involves eating only between sunset and sunrise.
• This altered eating schedule may disrupt nocturnal sleep patterns and physiological rhythms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on sleep architecture and rectal temperature (Tre) circadian rhythms.
• To determine if observed changes are due to fasting or altered meal timing.

Main Methods:

• Eight healthy young males underwent polysomnography and rectal temperature monitoring over four periods: baseline, early Ramadan, late Ramadan, and post-Ramadan.
• Sleep stages (NREM, SWS, REM) and rectal temperature (Tre) parameters (acrophase, mesor, amplitude) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Ramadan fasting increased sleep latency and decreased total sleep time.
• Sleep architecture showed altered proportions of NREM sleep, with increased stage 2 and decreased slow-wave sleep (SWS).
• Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration and proportion decreased; rectal temperature showed a delayed acrophase and increased nocturnal values, with decreased amplitude.

Conclusions:

• Ramadan intermittent fasting significantly modifies sleep architecture, characterized by increased sleep latency and reduced SWS and REM sleep.
• Changes in sleep are associated with a delayed circadian rhythm of core body temperature.
• These effects are primarily attributed to the inverted drinking and meal schedule rather than altered energy intake.