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Dietary Intake and Body Composition During Ramadan in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With
Khaled Trabelsi1,2, Achraf Ammar3,4,5, Omar Boukhris2,6
1Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Ramadan fasting leads to decreased body mass and body fat percentage in athletes, with reduced carbohydrate and water intake. Lean body mass remains unchanged, highlighting the need for further research on dietary impacts during fasting.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Science
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Ramadan observance involves daily fasting from dawn to sunset, potentially impacting athletes' nutritional intake and body composition.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for maintaining athletic performance and health during the fasting month.
Approach:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing data from multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Taylor and Francis).
- Studies included adult athletes (≥19 years) training regularly, assessing dietary intake and/or body composition before and during Ramadan.
- Methodological quality was assessed using QualSyst, with included studies rated as strong or moderate.
Key Points:
- During Ramadan, athletes experienced significant decreases in energy, carbohydrate, and water intake compared to pre-Ramadan levels.
- Fat and protein intake showed no significant changes.
- Body mass and body fat percentage decreased by the fourth week of Ramadan, while lean body mass remained stable.
Conclusions:
- Ramadan fasting is associated with reductions in body mass and body fat percentage among athletes, irrespective of lean body mass.
- Decreased carbohydrate and water intake are key dietary changes observed during Ramadan.
- Further high-quality research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay between Ramadan fasting, dietary habits, and body composition in athletes.
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