Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO1073

Effect of Ramadan Fasting (RF) on Patients with CKD: A Prospective Observational Study

Session Information

• Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
  November 07, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

• 1500 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Authors

• Elfar, Ahmed F., King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ahmed F. Elfar, MD

• Housawi, Abdulrahman, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Housawi, MBChB

• Bilali, Ruqayyah Mohd, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ruqayyah Mohd Bilali, MD, MBBS, CEM

• Abbas, Memuna, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Memuna Abbas, MBBS

• AlJayar, Dina, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dina AlJayar, MBBS

• Alruwaite, Mohamed, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Alruwaite, MBBS

• Abumelha, Saeed, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Saeed Abumelha, MD

• Altuwaijri, Wafa Abdulaziz, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Wafa Abdulaziz Altuwaijri, MBBS

• Almutairi, Fahad Rabeh, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fahad Rabeh Almutairi, MD, MBBS

• Alahmadi, Mohammed, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Alahmadi, MD, MBBS

• Alsayegh, Lujain, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Lujain Alsayegh

• Alanazi, Talal Hamad, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Talal Hamad Alanazi, DrMed, MBBS

• Alotaibi, Jawaher Jazza, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Jawaher Jazza Alotaibi, MBBS

• Alsuwaida, Feras, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Feras Alsuwaida

• Alfarraj, Abdulrahman Sulaiman, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Sulaiman Alfarraj, MBBS

• Alshammari, Masheal, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Masheal Alshammari, MD

• Zain Aldeen, Abdullah M., King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abdullah M. Zain Aldeen, MD, MBBS

• Alhammadi, Mariam, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mariam Alhammadi

• Moosa, A. Abdulaziz, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A. Abdulaziz Moosa, MD, MBChB

• Teleb, Marwa, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Marwa Teleb, MD, MBChB

• Alqarni, Khaled Abdullah, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Khaled Abdullah Alqarni, MD

• Alahmadi, Ameen S., King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ameen S. Alahmadi, MD

• Mohamed, Gamal, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Gamal Mohamed, PhD

• Ebrahim, Yasser Abdelmawgood, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Yasser Abdelmawgood Ebrahim, MD

Background

Only few studies with small numbers of patients evaluated the effect of RF on kidney function in patients with CKD. Some of them showed
no harmful effect, while others demonstrated worsening of renal function primarily observed in those with moderate to severe CKD.

Methods

We screened 2,150 patients. 313 participants with CKD stages 3-5 were included in the study, with the majority being male (62.6 %). Most participants (74.4 %) fasted during Ramadan, while 18.2 % chose not to fast and 7.3 % followed a partial-fasting plan.
Patients were counselled regarding fasting according to the current standard of care, and the patients decided on fasting without interference from the treating physicians. All patients had labs 2 months before fasting, and 14-21 days after the starting of RF. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) was defined per KDIGO as increase in serum creatinine by ≥0.3 mg/dL (≥26.5 micromol/L) or increase in serum creatinine to ≥1.5 time’s baseline.

Results

AKI incidence was 10.9% among fasters compared to 9.8 % among non-fasters, which was not statistically significant. It was noted that proteinuria improved with fasting.

Conclusion

RF is well tolerated among Saudi patients with CKD with a slight increase risk of AKI which is not statistically significant. Patients with CKD should be allowed to fast Ramadan with instruction to check labs 7-14 days later.

Descriptive Statistics For Estimated Daily Protein Excretion (mg/mmol)

PCR= Protein-CREATININE ratio

Funding

• Government Support – Non-U.S.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• doi: 10.1681/ASN.20255xcap7hr