The Interplay between Metabolic Syndrome and Religious Fasting in Postmenopausal Women

Anna Kokkinopoulou; Niki Katsiki; Ioannis Pagkalos; Nikolaos E Rodopaios; Alexandra-Aikaterini Koulouri; Eleni Vasara; Sousana K Papadopoulou; Petros Skepastianos; Emmanouil Dermitzakis; Maria Hassapidou; Anthony G Kafatos

doi:10.3390/nu15112478

The Interplay between Metabolic Syndrome and Religious Fasting in Postmenopausal Women

Nutrients. 2023 May 26;15(11):2478. doi: 10.3390/nu15112478.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Unit, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Crete, Greece.
² Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus.
⁴ Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

Abstract

Religious fasting that involves abstinence from specific food(s) is part of many religions worldwide and has been gaining attention by the research community during the last years. The study aimed to investigate whether the periodic Christian Orthodox fasting mitigates the changes in body composition, dietary intake, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women. One hundred and thirty-four postmenopausal women aged 57.3 ± 6.7 years participated in this study. The Christian Orthodox fasting was followed by 68 postmenopausal women since their childhood, whereas 66 postmenopausal women were non-fasters. Data collection involved anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary information. Postmenopausal women who fasted according to Christian Orthodox Church recommendations had significantly higher mean fat free mass (45 vs. 44 kg, p = 0.002), hip circumference (104 vs. 99 cm, p = 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (79 vs. 82 mmHg, p = 0.024). No other differences were found with regards to anthropometric data. Fasters also consumed significantly less fat (78 vs. 91 g, p = 0.006), as well as saturated (19 vs. 23 g, p = 0.015), monounsaturated (41 vs. 47 g, p = 0.018), and polyunsaturated fat (8.5 vs. 10 g, p = 0.023), trans fatty acids (0.5 vs. 2.3 g, p = 0.035), and cholesterol (132 vs. 176 g, p = 0.011). In terms of MetS features, non-fasters had more frequently elevated fasting blood glucose (11.8 vs. 24.2%, p = 0.039) and elevated blood pressure (13.2 vs. 36.4%, p = 0.041) compared with fasters. MetS was more common in non-fasters versus fasters with a marginal level of significance (30.3 vs. 23.5%, p = 0.052). Postmenopausal women who follow the Christian Orthodox fasting regime had lower fat intake, and no other difference in nutrient intake, compared with non-fasters. The latter were more likely to have MetS and some of its components. Overall, periodic abstinence from meat, dairy products, and eggs might play a protective role in postmenopausal women with regard to MetS.

Keywords: Christian Orthodox fasting; blood lipids; metabolic syndrome; nutrient intake; postmenopausal women; religious fasting.

MeSH terms

Child
Dairy Products
Diet
Fasting / physiology
Female
Humans
Metabolic Syndrome* / epidemiology
Postmenopause
Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This research received funding from the University of Geneva for data generation.