Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Sleeping Pattern and Nutritional Status of International Students at Nanjing- China

Objective: To investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting (RF) on sleeping pattern, nutritional status and nutrientintake of healthy international students.Study Design: Cross sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at health centers of three universities i-e NanjingUniversity of Science and Technology, Nanjing Agriculture University and School of Public Health NanjingMedical University, China in the month of May to June 2019.Materials and Methods: A total 400 healthy male international students (18 to 38 years of age) from threeuniversities of Nanjing city, China were registered through written consent. Data on anthropometrics, bodycomposition, dietary intake, and physical activities were recorded through face to face interviews in a standardquestionnaire while sleeping pattern was assessed by using polysomnography (PSG) technique at two timepoints (pre-fasting and post-fasting).Results: The findings suggested non-significant difference between sleep latency (SL), sleep arousal (SA), andtotal sleep time (TST) after fasting compared to baseline (pre-fasting). The mean routine activities time(p=0.000) and walking (p=0.005) were significantly different before and after Ramadan. Mean values of hipcircumference (HC), % fat, body mass index (BMI) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were also significantly(p<0.05) changed. Moreover, after one month of RF, the nutritional status of the students was significantlyimproved based on BMI and WC classifications. The macronutrients, selected vitamins and minerals intake atpre-fasting was significantly (p<0.05) higher than post-fasting. There was a significant positive correlation ofdietary fat with body %fat, BMI and BMR; total energy with sleep arousal (SA); dietary fiber with total sleep time(TST); vitamin A with sleep latency (SL), SA, BMI and BMR while vitamin D and E with SL and SA respectively.Conclusion: Fasting in Ramadan fis not affecting the routine activities and sleeping pattern while regulating theoptimal nutritional status.