Abstract

Introduction: Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar. Ramadan fasting is a religious obligation for all healthy adult Muslims. Many pregnant Muslim women choose to fast during Ramadan while others prefer not to do so. The aim of this study was to compare the basic hematological parameters of fasting and non-fasting pregnant women 3 months after Ramadan. Materials and methods: In this case-control study, 3 months after the end of Ramadan, the concentrations of basic hematological parameters in 200 healthy pregnant women with a previous history of fasting (n = 100) and non-fasting (n = 100) were measured. Results: The results showed that the fasters and non-fasters were similar in maternal age, gestational age, gravidity, pre-pregnancy weight, and maternal weight at enrollment. There were no statistically significant differences between the mean of hemoglobin (12.34 +/- 1.15 g/dL vs 12.60 +/- 1.11 g/dL, p = 0.10) and hematocrit (36.39 +/- 2.79 vs 36.27 +/- 3.14 , p = 0.77) in the fasting and non-fasting groups, respectively. In addition, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups when other hematological parameters were compared (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although the immediate effects of Ramadan fasting on hematological parameters are not known, this study concluded that partial fasting during Ramadan from a hematological point of view is of no concern for pregnant women 3 months after the end of Ramadan.