Evaluation of the Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Parotid and Submandibular Gland Elasticity with Share Wave Elastography

Abstract

Background: The changes in eating-drinking and sleeping habits during Ramadan cause also changes in daily routines. Several studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effects of fasting on human physiology and the potential impact on the existing diseases. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fast on parotid and submandibular gland elasticity with share wave elastography.

Methods: The anthropometric measurements of the volunteers such as age, gender, height, and weight, and the elastography values of the bilateral parotid and submandibular glands measured on the day before and on the last day of Ramadan were obtained. Five 2D-SWE measurements were taken at the same depth. The average of these was calculated. In this way, the accuracy of the numerical data obtained was increased. The mean value of five 2D-SWE measurements was used for the statistical analysis. This procedure was repeated for both parotid and submandibular glands. Data obtained in the study were analyzed statistically. A value of p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean BMI values measured on the day before Ramadan and the last day of Ramadan fasting (p<0.001). No significant difference of elastography values was found between the bilateral parotid and submandibular glands on the day before Ramadan and on the last day of Ramadan.

Conclusion: The intermittent fasting during Ramadan had no effect on the elasticity of the salivary glands, as determined by our studied.