Altered cortisol levels in relation to Ramadan

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Chronobiology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Ramadan fasting involves significant alterations in daily routines, including sleep-wake cycles.
• Disruptions in circadian rhythms, such as sleep patterns, can impact hormonal profiles, including cortisol levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of altered sleep patterns during Ramadan on morning and midnight cortisol levels in healthy adults.
• To assess the reversibility of cortisol rhythm changes after the fasting period.

Main Methods:

• 10 healthy adults monitored cortisol levels at home during Ramadan.
• 24-hour cortisol profiling was conducted on one participant.
• Cortisol levels were re-evaluated 4 weeks after Ramadan.

Main Results:

• Four participants exhibited altered cortisol rhythms during the latter half of Ramadan, with some showing a reversed morning/midnight ratio.
• A significant forward shift in the cortisol acrophase and nadir was observed in one participant, correlating with sleep pattern changes.
• Morning cortisol levels normalized for all subjects 4 weeks post-Ramadan.
• Elevated midnight cortisol levels (>250 nmol/l) persisted in three participants who showed rhythm alterations during Ramadan.

Conclusions:

• Altered sleep during Ramadan can significantly disrupt the diurnal cortisol rhythm.
• Single cortisol measurements taken during or shortly after Ramadan may be misleading in clinical settings.
• Persistent elevated midnight cortisol levels warrant further investigation regarding long-term health implications.