Interaction effects of endurance training and Ramadan fasting on plasma levels of fibrinolytic factors in men

Regular exercise can cause favorable changes in fibrinolytic system which might lead to improvement in its function. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of endurance training accompanied by fasting on fibrinolytic parameters in sedentary males. Twenty-four healthy male subjects voluntarily participated in the study and were randomly divided into fasting (F) and endurance training+fasting (F+ET) groups, though, because of the subjects’s withdrawal, the research was carried out by using 20 subjects (10 per group). Subjects in F group (weight, 77.4±16.2 kg and BMI 25.7±4.5) had only fasting during Ramadan, whereas, subjects in F+ET group (weight, 79.3±9.3 kg and BMI 26.3±2.9) in addition to fasting, performed an endurance training protocol for 4 weeks, 3 times/week. Two blood samples (6 ml) were taken before and after Ramadan for measuring tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) antigens and D-Dimer. Dietary intake was recorded before and at the second week of Ramadan. Weight, BMI and body fat percent decreased significantly (P<0.05) after Ramadan in two groups. However, weight and BMI reductions were more pronounced in F+ET than F group (P<0.05). Fat intake was increased significantly (P<0.05) during Ramadan in both groups. t-PA antigen reduced significantly (P<0.05) in F+ET group, though the reduction in F group was not significant (P=0.06). However, between-group comparisons for t-PA antigen, PAI-1 antigen and D-Dimer did not show a significant difference (P>0.05). Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that probably endurance training accompanied by Islamic fasting lead to optimal changes in fibrinolytic system through reductions in body weight, BMI and t-PA antigen.