Ramadan fasting during pregnancy associated with reduced birth weight, especially during first trimester

A recent study published in the Public Library of Science suggest that dietary choices outside of fasting hours during Ramadan are relatively easily modifiable and may have an impact on neonatal health outcomes.

Previous studies have found that Ramadan fasting during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring health outcomes throughout the life course. However, the effect of diet and sleep adaptations during Ramadan on neonatal health outcomes is not yet clear. So, Fabienne Pradella and team aimed to document the maternal lifestyle during Ramadan and assess if diet and sleep adaptations are associated with neonatal health outcomes, independent of and in addition to maternal fasting.

The study surveyed 326 Muslim women who delivered their babies in Mainz, Germany, and linked their responses to maternal and infant hospital records. Participants reported on fasting, dietary composition, and sleep schedules while pregnant during Ramadan.

The results showed that fasting during pregnancy was associated with reduced birth weight, especially during the first trimester.

Maternal dietary composition and altered sleep were not directly associated with birth weight, but the findings suggested that the association between fasting and birth weight may be moderated by dietary intake during Ramadan outside of fasting hours.

Specifically, women who switched to high-fat diets seemed to have a reduced risk of low birth weight.

This is the first study to include information on maternal diet and sleep during Ramadan, and additional research is needed to assess the roles of specific macronutrients and food groups. The study provides important information that can help healthcare professionals provide advice on dietary choices to pregnant women who choose to fast during Ramadan.

Reference:

Pradella, F., Leimer, B., Fruth, A., Queißer-Wahrendorf, A., & van Ewijk, R. J. (2023). Ramadan during pregnancy and neonatal health—Fasting, dietary composition and sleep patterns. In S. M. Hussain (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 18, Issue 2, p. e0281051). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281051