Tinjauan Biomedik Puasa Ramadhan - Ardi Pramono (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, 2003)
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligation for Moslems. They retain from eating and drinking for several hours during the day time from dawn to sunset for about 30 days. However, due to geographic difference Moslems from different part of the world will experience different length of daytime. Those in equatorial regions have more or less little variation, while those in northern or southern hemisphere very much depend on season varia¬tion. Previous studies reveal that fasting during Ramadan may affect biochemi¬cal parameters in human body, however, they seem to remain in normal range. During fasting, the body consumes mainly glucose from gluconeogenesis to produce energy. Glycerol, lactate, and certain amino acids are among others utilised as substrate for gluconeogenesis. This biochemical process produces urea, changes in muscle mass and reduced fat in adiposa tissue. It is sug¬gested that more fat should be consumed while practicing Ramadan fasting.Puasa di bulan Ramadan merupakan kewajiban bagi muslim yang sudah akil baliq. Puasa dilakukan dengan menahan makan dan minum sejak matahari terbit sampai tenggelam, selama 30 hari di bulan Ramadan. Karena perbedaan muka bumi dan geografis, maka lama puasa setiap hari berbeda di tiap negara. Pada negara di daerah equator sedikit megalami perubahan, sedangkan yang terletak di utara dan selatan garis equator dapat memiliki variasi waktu tergantung musim. Penelitian yang telah dilakukan menunjukkan bahwa puasa Ramadan dapat mempengaruhi parameter biokimiawi tubuh, walaupun masih dalam batas normal Selama puasa, glukosa merupakan sumber energi utama yang berasal dari proses glukoneogenesis. Glukoneogenesis berasal dari gliserol, laktat, dan asam amino glukogenik. Proses glukoneogenesis ini menghasilkan urea, perubahan massa otot, dan penurunan lemak di jaringan adipose. Disarankan agar selama menjalankan puasa Ramadan, meningkatkan konsumsi lemak.