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Cited by 92Birth, Development, and HealthDietary Effects on HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studies

Changes in Placental Size during Ramadan

Alwasel, S.H., Abotalib, Z., Aljarallah, J.S., Osmond, C., Alkharaz, S.M., Alhazza, I.M., Badr, G., Barker, D.J.P.·2010·Placenta
DOI 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.04.010
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Abstract

Background Placental growth responds to maternal influences. Ramadan is an annual period of day-time fasting during which people in Saudi Arabia, including pregnant women, change their diets and physical activity. Little is known about the effects of this altered lifestyle on placental development.Methods We studied the birth records of 7083 babies born over a four-year period to Saudi nationals in Unizah, a small city 350km to the north of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The records included birth weight, placental weight and gestational age.Results Mean birth weight was similar to European values but the mean placental weight and ratio of placental weight to birth weight were lower. Among babies who were in the second or third trimester of gestation during Ramadan the mean placental weight and ratio were below those of babies who were not in utero during Ramadan. Among boys the mean placental ratios were 14.4 percent (second trimester) and 14.5 percent (third trimester) compared with 14.9 percent (p=<0.001 and 0.002). The corresponding figures for girls were 14.8 and 14.6 percent compared with 15.1 percent (p=0.02 and <0.001).Conclusions In Saudi Arabia placentas respond to mothers' limited ability to deliver nutrients to them. Placental growth slows but efficiency is increased so that fetal growth is sustained, albeit with a reduced reserve capacity. The lifestyle changes associated with Ramadan further slow placental growth. Ramadan may influence placental growth through dietary changes other than day-time fasting. Changes in placental growth during Ramadan could be associated with altered fetal programming, and may therefore have long-term implications for the health of the next generation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.placenta.2010.04.010

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  • Formal fasting in late pregnancy during Ramadan is associated with reduced placental weight at term in Saudi Arabian and Tunisian women.

    “Formal fasting in late pregnancy during Ramadan is also associated with reduced placental weight at term in Saudi Arabian and Tunisian women (10,12).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [10]

  • Similar increases in placental efficiency are seen in human populations fasting for Ramadan and in underweight women delivering small infants with a small placenta.

    “Similar increases in placental efficiency are seen in the human populations fasting for Ramadan and in underweight women delivering small infants with a small placenta (10,556).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [10]

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Authors
Alwasel, S. H., Abotalib, Z., Aljarallah, J. S., Osmond, C., Alkharaz, S. M., Alhazza, I. M., Badr, G., & Barker, D. J. P.
Affiliations
  • King Saud University (SA)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
Corresponding author
Alwasel, S.H.
ORCID
Venue
Placenta
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-07
Volume
31
Issue
7
Pages
607-610
ISSN
0143-4004 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.placenta.2010.04.010
OpenAlex
W2088249258
Cited by
92
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
FWCI
7.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Placenta (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Dietary Effects on Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
Keywords
Ramadan, placental weight, placental development, maternal fasting, pregnancy, birth weight, fetal programming, gestational age, sex differences, Saudi Arabia
MeSH terms
Birth Weight, Fasting, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Islam, Male, Placenta, Placentation, Pregnancy, Saudi Arabia, Fetal Development

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