Microstructural effects of Ramadan fasting on the brain: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Abstract

PURPOSEWe aimed to examine whether the brain displays any micro-structural changes after a three-week Ramadan fasting period using diffusion tenson imaging. METHODSThis study included a study and a control group of 25 volun-teers each. In the study group, we examined and compared apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotro-py (FA) values of the participants during (phase 1) and after (phase 2) a period of fasting. The control group included in-dividuals who did not fast. ADC and FA values obtained in phase 1 and phase 2 were compared between the study and control groups.RESULTS In the study group, ADC values of hypothalamus and, to a lesser extent, of insula were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. The FA values of amygdala, middle temporal cortex, thalamus and, to a lesser extent, of medial prefrontal cortex were lower in phase 1 compared with phase 2 and the control group. Phase 2 ADC and FA val-ues of the study group were not significantly different com-pared with the control group at any brain location. CONCLUSION A three-week Ramadan fasting period can cause microstruc-tural changes in the brain, and diffusion tensor imaging en-ables the visualization of these changes. The identification of brain locations where changes occurred in ADC and FA values during fasting can be helpful in diagnostic imaging and understanding the pathophysiology of eating disorders.