ramadan fasting: do we need more evidence?

Over a billion muslims fast worldwide during ramadan each year. this religious practice, contributes to their health as well as their spiritual growth. however, available evidence regarding the health benefits of ramadan fasting is scarce and highly contentious. although islam exempts patients from fasting, many conceivably fast, and their clinical condition is prone to deteriorate due to persistent gap between current expert knowledge and conclusive strong evidence regarding the pathophysiologic and metabolic alterations of fasting. in this article, we summarize the results of initial studies regarding the effects of ramadan fasting on some clinical conditions, alterations of body composition and clinically important outcomes of patients with previous history of cardiovascular disease, asthma or renal colic disease. our studies have shed light on several outcomes in favor of ramadan fasting, and encourage those afflicted to consult their physicians and follow medical and scientific recommendations. in this review we aimed to present relevant evidence, clarify future scope and provide suggestions for future investigations.