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Published on: February 1, 2012
[Duodenal ulcer disease and Ramadan]
Fethia Bdioui1, Wissem Melki, Wafa Ben Mansour
1Centre hospitalo-universitaire, service d'hépatogastroentérologie, 5000 Monastir, Tunisie. fethia.saffar@rns.tn
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Ramadan fasting increases gastric acidity, raising duodenal ulcer reactivation risks. Patients with active ulcers should avoid fasting, but healed ulcers with treatment may allow safe fasting.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Ramadan fasting alters 24-hour gastric acidity patterns, peaking in the daytime.
- Increased gastric acidity during fasting poses a significant risk for duodenal ulcer (DU) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the risk of duodenal ulcer reactivation and complications during Ramadan fasting.
- To determine the safety of Ramadan fasting for patients with active or healed duodenal ulcers.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of duodenal ulcer complication frequencies during Ramadan.
- Review of existing literature on gastric acidity, duodenal ulcers, and Ramadan fasting.
Main Results:
- Duodenal ulcer complication rates are statistically higher during Ramadan.
- Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage risk doubles, and perforation risk quadruples during Ramadan.
- Helicobacter pylori eradication did not significantly reduce perforation risk.
Conclusions:
- Ramadan fasting is inadvisable for patients with active duodenal ulcers due to increased risks.
- Patients with healed ulcers and eradicated H. pylori may fast safely with proton pump inhibitor use.
- Further large prospective studies are required to confirm safety guidelines.
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