Evaluation of Serum Levels of IL-1α, TGF-β, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-γ, Cortisol and Immunoglobulins in Islamic Ramadan Fasting

This research aimed determining the levels of cortisol, immunoglobulins and major serum cytokines, following Ramadan fasting, as immune response indexes. For this before and after Ramadan fasting study, twenty-five students residing at the dormitory of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected. All cytokines levels (IL-1α, TGF-β, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-γ) were determined by the ELISA method, Immoglobulines were determined by the Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID) technique and cortisol levels were measured by EIA too. While IFN-γ a showed a considerable increase after Ramadan fasting (P<0.01), IFN-α and TNF-α had decreased (P³ 0.5 and <0.02 respectively). Serum level of TGF-β increased but not significantly (P>0.3) cortisol also increased after one month of fasting (P<0.05). Serum IL-1α had a non-significant decrease (P ³ 0.5). Although IgG & IgM levels showed no significant increase, IgA levels showed significant decrease [P<0.5]. Our data revealed that Ramadan fasting increased IFN-y, while decreasing TNF-a and IgA levels ramadan fasting can probably increase T-Cell function, lower the inflammatory appreance rate and affect immunoglubulin production.