INAPPROPRIATE NUTRITIONAL INTAKES DURING RAMADAN IN OBESE WOMEN PATIENTS WITH FATTY LIVER PRECLUDE ITS BENEFICIAL EFFECT

Introduction: Ramadan is a lunar month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, individuals who desire to keep a strict fast from dawn to sunset prevent stop eating and drinking. We evaluated the dietary intakes of patients with fatty liver during this month. Material and Methods: Sixty eligible overweight and obese women with fatty liver diagnosed via ultrasonography who had referred to the maternal and child obesity research center were included in this prospective study. Demographic, nutritional, clinical and laboratory data for each patient were extracted and analyzed. Dietary intake was evaluated by a 24 h dietary recall questionnaire and specific validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: The mean age in this population group was 41.4 ± 7.79 years, mean participant weight was 78.90 ± 12.33 kg, and mean BMI was 32.08 ± 4.62. Mean daily energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, and mean daily intake from different food groups were evaluated and extracted as mean ± SD. Mean daily energy intakes during Ramadan and mean requirement were 2527.41 ± 1509.58 and 1862.51 ± 1518.86 Kcal/day respectively. The analysis for comparing the patients’ non-Ramadan requirement and Ramadan intakes in this study group showed no significant differences for the two comparable parallel variables. Conclusion: This study showed that the daily intakes from different dietary food groups in this population during Ramadan were not appropriate and well-balanced, so this can preclude the beneficial effects of such dieting.