Aim of work: To assess the effect of fasting for a whole month during Ramadan on the fetal Doppler indices and amniotic fluid index.
Patients and Methods: The study involved 240 healthy women in the third trimester of a normal singleton pregnancy. The umbilical artery resistance index (RI) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) and the amniotic fluid index were measured at the beginning of Ramadan and at the end of the month. Of the included women, 157 (65.4%) chose to fast (Group 1) and 83 (34.6%) were not fasting (Group 2).
Results: On reassessment, 9 participants were lost to follow up, 2 women developed hypertension and another woman had preterm delivery. Thus, results at the end of Ramadan were presented for 228 women; 152 in the fasting and 76 in the non-fasting group. On initial assessment, there was no significant difference between fasting and non-fasting women regarding umbilical artery RI (p = 0.645), MCA PI (p = 0.581) and AMF (p = 0.070). During re-assessment at the end of Ramadan, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding umbilical artery RI (p = 0.519), MCA PI (p = 0.383) and AMF (p = 0.339). At the end of Ramadan, there was a statistically significant decrease of Doppler indices and AFI. However, all values were within the clinically accepted range.
Conclusion: Maternal fasting during Ramadan does not adversely affects fetal condition based on finding of normal Doppler indices and amniotic fluid index, provided woman is young and healthy.