EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT FASTING ON SOME HAEMOSTATIC PARAMETERS

ABSTRACT

Intermittent fasting (IF) is one of the most popular forms of fasting. It involves alternating periods of fasting and eating within a specific time window. Intermittent fasting works by manipulating the timing of meals to create specific fasting and eating windows. During the fasting period, several physiological changes occur in the body. Insulin levels decrease, allowing stored body fat to be more accessible for energy. Additionally, cellular repair processes, such as autophagy, may be activated during fasting. Understanding the potential impact of intermittent fasting on haemostatic parameters in healthy adults holds significance in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of intermittent fasting on some haemostatic parameters among apparently healthy adults in Benin city. Using a convenient sampling method, A total of one hundred and twenty (120) samples, comprising of sixty (60) control samples and sixty (60) test samples were used in this study. Eight (8) mL of venous blood was collected using standard venipuncture technique and put in sodium citrate and EDTA container. Analysis for platelet count and haemostatic parameters (prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and international normalized ratio (INR)) was done using the ERMA HAEMATOLOGY autoanalyzer PCE-210N and manual method respectively. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The result showed that there was no statistically significant difference in platelets counts (×10³/µl) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (secs) between the fasting (144.10 ± 56.77 and 35.92 ± 8.31) and non-fasting (133.87 ± 49.68 and 32.41 ± 8.37) (p>0.05). Prothrombin time (PT) (secs) was significantly (p=0.037) higher during the fasting phase (144.10 ± 56.77) when compared to the non-fasting phase (133.87 ± 49.68). International normalized ratio (INR) was significantly (p=0.020) higher in the fasting phase (1.34 ± 0.50) when compared to the non-fasting phase (1.10 ± 0.15). In conclusion, while no significant differences were observed in platelet count and APTT, the significant increase in PT and INR during the fasting phase may imply that factors in the extrinsic coagulation pathway may be affected by intermittent fasting.