Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Endorphin and Endocannabinoid level in Serum, PBMC and Macrophage

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Ramadan is a holy month and Muslims fast during this month that will be altered daily life pattern from diurnal to nocturnal in which its can be as stressor and the body will response to this stressor. Endorphin and endocannabinoid is effectors of stress, so the aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting (RF) as stressor on endorphin and endocannabinoid of serum, PBMC and macrophage to response stressor. Twenty seven healthy volunteers male aged 18–22 years (mean±SD 20.26±1.13 years) who fasted during Ramadan participated in the study. Blood sampling was conducted on 7 days before Ramadan, days 7 and 21 of Ramadan. The following were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method: endorphin and endocannabinoid in serum, PBMC and macrophage. Endorphin serum and PBMC increase significant (p<0.05) on day 7 and 21 of Ramadan compared to before Ramadan. Day 7 compared with day 21 was increase significant on serum and decrease significant on PBMC. Endorphin macrophage increase not significant (p>0.05) on day 7 but significant on day 21 of Ramadan compared to before Ramadan and day 7 compared with day 21 was significant too. Endocannabinoid serum and PBMC increase significant (p<0.05) on day 7 and 21 of Ramadan compared to before Ramadan but day 7 compared to day 21 was not significant (p>0.05) on serum and decrease not significant on PBMC. Endocannabinoid macrophage decrease not significant (p>0.05) on day 7 but significant on day 21 of Ramadan compared to before Ramadan and day 7 compared to day 21 was decrease significantly. Before Ramadan endorphin level highest was in serum and lowest in macrophage, day 7 highest was in PBMC and lowest in serum and day 21 highest was in serum and lowest in PBMC, in which each other was significantly difference. Endocannabinoid level before Ramadan, day 7 and day 21 was had same pattern, highest in serum and lowest in macrophage, each other was significantly different. The results obtained indicate that subject were tolerance during RF. The serum, PBMC and macrophage had difference stress responses to RF as stressor. Response stress of serum higher than PBMC and macrophage, while PBMC higher in early and macrophage in the end of RF. Are the serum, PBMC and macrophage during RF in distress or eustress condition and are during culture process contributing to response stress of macrophage still unelucidated.