With Ramadan just around the corner, many Muslims are beginning to mentally prepare for the tough challenge ahead. Fasting involves abstinence from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Despite its inherent difficulty, it brings numerous psychological and spiritual benefits as Muslims appreciate Allah for the blessings they have received, remember those who are less fortunate, and use the month as an opportunity to be closer to their creator.

‘O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous’ (Qur’an, 2:183).

Intermittent fasting also has health benefits. It can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol as well as improve mental health and weight loss efforts.

The 5:2 diet, in which participants eat normally for five days but eat only 25% of their normal caloric intake the other two, is quite similar to Prophet Muhammad’s fasting on Mondays and Thursdays some 1,400 years ago.

Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Massenger (peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me (Sahih Muslim 1162 e).

Research shows that fasting affects various physiological functions in the body.

• As the fasting day progresses and glucose is used up as an energy source, the body turns to fat stores, resulting in weight loss.
• Blood levels of insulin drop significantly, facilitating fat burning.
• Hormone levels change to allow easier access to fat stores and improve fat breakdown, including human growth hormones and those related to positive moods such as endorphins, epinephrine and norepinephrine.
• This use of fat for energy helps preserve muscle and reduce cholesterol.
• As fat stores are used up for energy, toxins stored in the body’s fat are removed.
• To further conserve energy during fasting, the body removes damaged cells and generates new ones. This cell regeneration can protect against diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, and can reduce inflammation.

A team of researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have recently found that a metabolite, called uridine, is regulated by fasting and refeeding in mice, rats and humans. Uridine is required by every cell in the human body, and one of its roles involves storing glucose as energy reserves.

Classically, it was understood that the liver produces this metabolite. This study shows that this is not always the case and that fat cells take over this role during fasting.

It is thought that this is because the liver’s role during fasting becomes one of producing glucose. Therefore fat cells take over uridine production to relieve the burden from the liver and ensure more efficient regulation of glucose and more efficient energy management during fasting.

In the non-fasting state, the liver reduces uridine levels by releasing excess amounts of it into the stomach to assist in the absorption of nutrients such as glucose.

During fasting, uridine blood levels rise, reducing the metabolic rate and thus body temperature.

This suggests that energy balance is linked to the regulation of uridine, which we now know is a shared role between the liver and fat cells during fasting.

These findings could have further implications for the management of many diseases such as diabetes, cancer and neurological conditions.