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Is religious fasting related to iron status in Greek Orthodox Christians?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Katerina O. Sarri ,
Anthony G. Kafatos  and
Siobhan Higgins
Katerina O. Sarri
Affiliation:
Division of Developmental Medicine (Human Nutrition Section), Yorkhill Hospital, Dalnair Street, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK
Anthony G. Kafatos
Affiliation:
Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, School of Medicine, PO Box 2208, Iraklion 71003, Crete, Greece
Siobhan Higgins*
Affiliation:
Division of Developmental Medicine (Human Nutrition Section), Yorkhill Hospital, Dalnair Street, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Siobhan Higgins, fax +44 141 201 9275, email siobhan.higgins@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
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Abstract

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The Orthodox Christian diet is unique in regularly interchanging from an omnivore to a vegetarian-type diet, and no study to date has focused on the impact of this on Fe status. Thirty-five Greek Orthodox Christian strict fasters (n 17 male, n 18 female; mean age 43·6±13·2 years) and twenty-four controls (n 11 male, n 13 female; mean age 39·8±7·6 years) were studied before (pre) and near completion (end) of the Christmas fasting (CF) period (40 d), during which meat and dairy products are prohibited. Fe status was assessed using standard haematological parameters, and Fe deficiency was determined via serum ferritin levels (<12 ng/ml) and the tri-index model. While fasters had marginally poorer pre haematological indicators, values were well above the cut-off levels, suggesting that intermittent fasting for a mean of 22·5±15·5 years did not have any substantial adverse effects on Fe status. During the CF period the changes in Fe status indices were more beneficial for fasters than for control subjects. In particular, fasters increased their ferritin levels (P=0·02) and decreased their total Fe-binding capacity (P<0·001). Compared with males, the effect of CF was more pronounced in female fasters. No subjects were detected with Fe deficiency at the end of the CF period. End dietary Fe and fibre intake were significantly higher in the fasters as compared with the control group (P=0·038 and P=0·001, respectively). Adherence to the Orthodox Christian dietary guidelines does not have a major impact on Fe status and is not associated with a significantly greater degree of Fe deficiency.

Keywords

Iron statusDeficiencyFastingVegetarian dietOrthodox Christians
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 94 , Issue 2 , August 2005 , pp. 198 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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