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Purpose <p>Fasting during Ramadan has several regulatory effects on body composition and physical performance. However, similar findings in the older adults with relevance to neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity remain elusive.</p> Methods <p>We recruited men aged 55–71 for assessment of body composition, handgrip strength (HGS), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and plasma markers of NMJ integrity (c-terminal agrin fragment-22; CAF22) and neuronal injury (neurofilament light chain; NfL and brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). All participants were analyzed one week before Ramadan (Pre-Ramadan; Pre-R), one and three weeks into Ramadan (R1 and R2, respectively), and one week after Ramadan (Post-Ramadan; Post-R).</p> Results <p>We report improved gait speed, total SPPB scores, and reduced body fat at post-R compared to pre-R timepoint (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). HGS and SMI remained unchanged at R2 and post-R timepoints. We also observed a reduction in CAF22 and an increase in BDNF at R1, R2, and post-R timepoints, along with a decrease in NfL at R2 (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Lastly, multiple regression analysis revealed that the reduction in CAF22 was significantly correlated with improvements in HGS and total SPPB scores at R1 and post-R, suggesting that the NMJ restoration may be associated with enhanced physical capacity during Ramadan fasting.</p> Conclusion <p>While muscle mass and HGS remained unchanged, improvements in gait speed, total SPPB, and NMJ-related biomarkers suggest that Ramadan fasting may promote certain aspects of neuromuscular health in older adults.</p>

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Effects of Ramadan fasting on physical capacity and plasma markers of neuromuscular junction degradation in older adult men

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月16日

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  • Rizwan Qaisar,
  • Imran Ullah Khan,
  • M. Shahid Iqbal,
  • Firdos Ahmad,
  • Asima Karim

摘要

Purpose

Fasting during Ramadan has several regulatory effects on body composition and physical performance. However, similar findings in the older adults with relevance to neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity remain elusive.

Methods

We recruited men aged 55–71 for assessment of body composition, handgrip strength (HGS), short physical performance battery (SPPB), and plasma markers of NMJ integrity (c-terminal agrin fragment-22; CAF22) and neuronal injury (neurofilament light chain; NfL and brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). All participants were analyzed one week before Ramadan (Pre-Ramadan; Pre-R), one and three weeks into Ramadan (R1 and R2, respectively), and one week after Ramadan (Post-Ramadan; Post-R).

Results

We report improved gait speed, total SPPB scores, and reduced body fat at post-R compared to pre-R timepoint (all p < 0.05). HGS and SMI remained unchanged at R2 and post-R timepoints. We also observed a reduction in CAF22 and an increase in BDNF at R1, R2, and post-R timepoints, along with a decrease in NfL at R2 (all p < 0.05). Lastly, multiple regression analysis revealed that the reduction in CAF22 was significantly correlated with improvements in HGS and total SPPB scores at R1 and post-R, suggesting that the NMJ restoration may be associated with enhanced physical capacity during Ramadan fasting.

Conclusion

While muscle mass and HGS remained unchanged, improvements in gait speed, total SPPB, and NMJ-related biomarkers suggest that Ramadan fasting may promote certain aspects of neuromuscular health in older adults.