Ramadan Fasting Lowered Fat and Cholesterol in Postmenopausal Women: What the Research Shows

Ramadan Fasting Lowered Fat and Cholesterol in Postmenopausal Women: What the Research Shows

A 2023 study followed 62 Saudi women through Ramadan fasting — 31 before menopause and 31 after. Both groups lost body fat and improved their body shape. Women past menopause also saw their bad cholesterol drop. The study did not use a separate group that did not fast, so it cannot fully prove cause and effect.

Medical disclaimer: This article summarises published research for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified health professional. Always consult your doctor before starting any fasting protocol, especially if you have an existing health condition or take medication.

The Short Version

• What they tested: Whether a month of Ramadan fasting changes weight, body fat, and blood test results in women before and after menopause.
• Who did it: Nourah AlZunaidy and colleagues at Qassim University in Saudi Arabia, published in Medicina in 2023.
• How many people: 62 women — 31 not yet in menopause and 31 past menopause, ages 21 to 68.
• How long: About three weeks, measured before Ramadan and near its end.
• What happened: Both groups lost body fat, and women past menopause saw their bad cholesterol drop.
• Read the study yourself: Medicina 2023 →

What They Wanted to Find Out

Ramadan is a month when many Muslim women stop eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Researchers wanted to know if this yearly fast affects women differently before and after menopause. They also wanted to see what happens to weight, body fat, and blood markers like cholesterol and blood sugar. This matters because menopause changes how a woman's body handles fat.

Other pages on this site have looked at Ramadan fasting and menopause hormones. Fewer studies compare premenopausal and postmenopausal women side by side during the same fast. This one did exactly that.

Who Was in the Study

Who they were: All 62 women were healthy adults living in Saudi Arabia. One group had not yet gone through menopause. The other group had. Researchers also recorded each woman's job and income, since these turned out to matter for the results.

What the fasting actually looked like: During Ramadan, the women ate nothing and drank nothing from sunrise to sunset for about a month. They could eat and drink freely after sunset until the next sunrise. Researchers measured them once before Ramadan began and again near the end of the third week.

What Happened

Both groups of women lost body fat during Ramadan fasting, and cholesterol dropped the most in women past menopause.

• Blood sugar, good cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure stayed in a normal range for most women, both before and after.
• Bad cholesterol was lower by the end of Ramadan, and the drop was biggest in postmenopausal women.
• The share of overweight premenopausal women went down by the end of the study.
• Overweight numbers rose for postmenopausal women partway through Ramadan, then fell back down by the end.
• A woman's age, job, and income helped predict how much her body fat and eating changed.

What Did Not Change

• Salt intake did not drop the way other minerals did.
• The share of obese women in the premenopausal group stayed the same.
• Muscle: Not stated in the abstract.

What the Researchers Said

The research team said Ramadan fasting was linked to better health numbers in both groups. They said the improvement looked strongest in women past menopause, but called for bigger studies to confirm it.

What This Means for You

• If you are past menopause: this study suggests Ramadan-style fasting may lower bad cholesterol more than it does before menopause.
• If you are still having periods: fasting may help move you out of the overweight category, based on this study's premenopausal group.
• Watch your minerals: the women here ate fewer vitamins and minerals while fasting, so eating a varied diet at night matters.
• This was healthy Saudi women only: the results may not apply if you have diabetes, heart disease, or another chronic condition.
• Compare it to other research: see how combining fasting with exercise affected postmenopausal fitness or how Ramadan fasting affects menopause hormones.
• Talk to your doctor first: especially if you take medication or have a health condition.

What This Study Could Not Tell Us

• This looked at only 62 women, split into two smaller groups of 31 each.
• All the women were Saudi, so results may differ for other backgrounds.
• The study ran for about three weeks, so it cannot say what happens over a year.
• There was no separate group of women who did not fast, for comparison.
• Funding: Not stated in the abstract.

The Study Details

AlZunaidy, N. A., Al-Khalifa, A. S., Alhussain, M. H., Mohammed, M. A., Alfheeaid, H. A., Althwab, S. A., et al. (2023). The Effect of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Food Intake, Anthropometric (body measurements) Indices, and Metabolic Markers (blood test results) among Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. Medicina (Kaunas). PMID: 37512003

Common Questions

Does Ramadan fasting help postmenopausal women more than premenopausal women?

This study found bad cholesterol dropped the most in postmenopausal women. Both groups lost body fat, but the cholesterol change was clearer after menopause.

Does fasting during Ramadan cause weight loss for women?

Both groups of women lost body fat and improved their waist-to-hip ratio. More premenopausal women moved out of the overweight category by the end.

Does Ramadan fasting affect cholesterol in women?

Bad cholesterol was lower at the end of Ramadan for both groups. The drop was biggest in the 31 postmenopausal women.

Is Ramadan fasting safe for older women?

In this small study of healthy women up to age 68, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other markers stayed in a normal range. Women with health conditions should ask a doctor first.

How many women were in this Ramadan fasting study?

The study included 62 healthy Saudi women in total. Thirty-one had not yet gone through menopause, and 31 had.

More Research Like This

• Ramadan Fasting and Menopause Hormones
• Time-Restricted Eating Didn't Change Sex Hormones in Menopause
• Time-Restricted Eating Eased Menopause Symptoms More Than Exercise
• Time-Restricted Eating Cuts Weight the Same in Both Menopause Stages
• Combining Fasting With Interval Workouts Helped Women Over 50 Get Fitter
• Time-Restricted Eating Plus Tai Chi Improved Cholesterol in Menopause
• Fasting Plus Walking Boosted Muscle Strength in Postmenopausal Women

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