Original Research

Effects of Fasting on Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Ahreema Siddiqui
Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi
Abdul Rehman Arshad
Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi
Abdul Rehman Azeem
Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi
Usama Zahid
Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi
Maira Aleem
Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi

✉ Correspondence: Abdul Rehman Azeem Email: darazeem7@gmail.com

DOI https://doi.org/10.70302/jpsim.v6i2.2527
Volume: 6, Issue 2 Pages: 141–145 Published: 05 Jun 2025
Received: 06 Jan 2025 Revised: 22 Feb 2025 Accepted: 27 Apr 2025 Published Online: 05 Jun 2025

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed at examining the effects of fasting on rate of decline in renal function amongst patients with chronic kidney disease.

Methods

This observational study included patients with chronic kidney disease, having eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, who had remained under regular outdoor follow up from Jan to Jun 2023. Patients with hospitalization for more than 3 days during this period, on maintenance hemodialysis, or unwilling patients were excluded. Serum creatinine levels in January and June 2023 were noted down. Patients were also asked if they had fasted during Ramdan, and for how many days. Those who fasted for at least 3 consecutive days or 7 days in total were included in the fasting group. All others were included in non-fasting group.

Results

There were 83 patients, predominantly males (71; 85.54%). Median serum creatinine levels were 200 (135- 302) and 220 (153- 429) umol/L at the start and end of study period, corresponding to eGFR of 24.23 (15.55, 38.13) and 19.98 (10.76, 33.72) ml/min/1.73m2 respectively, with a median decline of 2.18 (-1.03, 7.75) ml/min/1.73m2. Mean duration of fasting amongst the 25 (30.12%) patients who fasted was 25.88± 6.05 days. The median decline in eGFR amongst patients who fasted and those who did not was and 5.08 ( -0.59, 9.34) and 2.10 (-1.24, 7.50). This difference was insignificant (p=0.648).

Conclusions

Fasting did not affect the rate of decline in renal function amongst our patients

Keywords
Chronic kidney failure Chronic kidney insufficiency Fasting Hemodialysis

How to Cite This Article

Siddiqui A, Arshad AR, Azeem AR, Zahid U, Aleem M. Effects of Fasting on Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease. J Pak Soc Intern Med. 2025;6(2):141–145. doi:10.70302/jpsim.v6i2.2527

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Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosed in accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines.

Funding

No specific funding was received for this research.

Funder information follows the Crossref Funder Registry standard.

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CC BY CC BY 4.0 This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. May be shared and adapted with attribution. © 2025 Journal of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine.
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