Does Religious Fasting Have a Protective Role against Metabolic Syndrome in Individuals Aged >50 Years?

The Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting is a periodic vegetarian-type diet lasting 180-200 days annually in which seafood and snails are allowed on all fasting days. Our aim was to investigate the effects of COC fasting on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults >50 years.

One hundred seventy-six individuals participated in the study (mean age 59.7 ± 6.0 years). Eighty-nine had been following the COC fasting regime since their childhood and eighty-seven were non-fasters. Anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and nutrient intake data were collected at a scheduled appointment, during a non-fasting period.

Fasters had significantly higher hip circumference (102 ± 8.5 vs. 98.8 ± 7.5 cm, p = 0.009), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (136 ± 73 vs. 115 ± 51 mg/dL, p = 0.033), and folic acid levels (6.0 ± 4.0 vs. 3.0 ± 1.2 ng/mL, p = 0.018), as well as lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (131 ± 13 vs. 136 ± 14 mmHg, p = 0.045), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (80 ± 8 vs. 83 ± 7 mmHg, p = 0.007), glucose (87 ± 16 vs. 93 ± 25 mg/dL, p = 0.039), and triglycerides (143 ± 94 vs. 175 ± 84 mg/dL, p = 0.040). Fasters had significantly less intake of calories (1493.65 ± 363.74 vs. 1614.65 ± 426.28 kcal, p = 0.044) and fat (81.17 ± 25.47 vs. 90.74 ± 24.75 g, p = 0.012), whereas they also consumed significantly less vitamin A-retinol, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin E, folic acid, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and significantly more vitamin C (p < 0.005 for all comparisons). BP was significantly higher in non-fasters (44.8 vs. 22.5%, p = 0.002), whereas MetS was more frequently present in non-fasters vs. fasters, with a marginal level of significance (35.6 vs. 22.5%, p = 0.055).

COC fasting may affect beneficially MetS prevalence in individuals >50 years, although future research is needed before reaching definite conclusions.