Khaberni - With the beginning of Ramadan, the change is not limited to the timing of food and drink only, but also includes one of the most sensitive and regular bodily functions: sleep.
Between the late breaking of the fast and the pre-dawn meal, and the renewal of the daily rhythm, the fasting individual experiences a different sleep pattern; an experience that might not seem tiring on the surface, but leaves its deep impact on the body and mind.
The effect of Ramadan extends to one of the most regular bodily functions, which is sleep.
A recent analytical study, re-examining this change from a precise scientific angle, attempted to answer a fundamental question: How does daytime intermittent fasting in Ramadan affect sleep duration and daytime sleepiness?
The researchers in their study published in the journal "Sleep and Breathing" relied on meta-analysis, one of the most rigorous scientific methods, which combines the results of a large number of previous studies to reach a more stable and reliable estimate of the real impact.
The analysis included 24 studies conducted in 12 different countries between 2001 and 2019, with 646 adult participants having an average age of about 24 years, about 73% of whom were men. The same sleep patterns were compared for participants before Ramadan and during it, instead of comparing different individuals, which enhances the accuracy of the results.
An hour of sleep disappears
The results clearly showed that Ramadan is associated with a significant decrease in total night-time sleep duration. Before Ramadan, the average sleep was about 7.2 hours per night, but during the holy month, it dropped to approximately 6.4 hours only.
In simpler terms, the fasting person loses about an entire hour of sleep each night during Ramadan, a change that may seem numerically minor but is physiologically significant, especially when repeated over 30 days.
The statistical analysis confirmed that this decrease is not incidental or coincidental, but represents a scientifically confirmed moderate impact, despite differences in lifestyles between countries and societies.
The impact of Ramadan extends to one of the most regular bodily functions, which is sleep.
Interestingly, this decline in sleep duration was not sharply reflected on the feeling of drowsiness during the day. The results of the Daytime Sleepiness Scale showed only a slight increase, from an average of 6.1 points before Ramadan to 7 points during it.
Although this increase is statistically significant, it does not reach a level that indicates excessive drowsiness or a clear disorder in daily alertness for most fasting individuals, suggesting that the body possesses a degree of adaptive flexibility in dealing with intermittent sleep during Ramadan.
The researchers explain this paradox by noting that fasting individuals often partially compensate for the lack of night-time sleep through naps or short rest periods, or by changing the nature of daily activity and reducing physical effort during certain hours.
However, the study implicitly warns that this adaptation does not mean an absence of impact, as shorter sleep could affect concentration, mood, and mental performance in the short term, especially for those combining fasting with hard work or long nights.
The study confirms that Ramadan does not deprive fasters of sleep as much as it redistributes it, reducing its total duration without necessarily leading to severe daytime sleepiness. However, at the same time, it highlights an important indicator: maintaining the quality of sleep and regulating its timings during the holy month is not a luxury, but a necessity for the health of the body and mind.
The researchers point to the need for more studies addressing different age groups and varying work patterns, to identify who are most affected by this subtle change in sleep rhythm.
