Clinical implications of intermittent Ramadan fasting on stable plaque psoriasis: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Environmental factors including diet have been supposed to play a role in its pathogenesis. Fasting in Ramadan consists of intermittent fasting in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn up to sunset. Aim: To validate the possible clinical consequences of Ramadan fasting for patients with psoriasis. Material and methods: The study was conducted in Ramadan 2019. It included patients over 18 years who were diagnosed with stable chronic plaque psoriasis. PASI and BSA scores, body mass index and biochemical tests (including blood lipids, fasting blood glucose) were compared before and after a month of Ramadan fasting. Results: The study included 121 psoriasis patients. The mean PASI score was 4.36 ±3.22 at the beginning of the study, which was reduced to 3.51 ±1.26 at the end of the study. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). There was no difference in the change of weight. We found a statistically significant difference in fasting plasma glucose, HDL and triglycerides. Only mild adverse events were noted during the study period. Conclusions: Ramadan intermittent fasting has beneficial effects on severity of the disease in psoriasis patients with a reduction in PASI score and no serious health hazards. Thus, Ramadan intermittent fasting could be considered during treatment of psoriasis patients.