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Background/Objectives: Religious fasting (RF) is practiced annually by millions of Christian and Muslim followers worldwide. Scarce data exist on the impact of RF on the metabolic and hematological profile of individuals with or without dyslipidemia. Subjects/Methods: The present study included: (i) 60 Greek Orthodox participants, 30 with dyslipidemia and 30 without dyslipidemia, who abstained from meat, fish and dairy products for seven consecutive weeks, and (ii) 15 young, non-dyslipidemic Muslim participants abstaining totally from food and liquid from dawn till sunset during 30 days. Biochemical (iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, calcium, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride and fasting glucose) and hematological (hemoglobin, hematocrit) serum blood test results of study participants were measured pre- and post- RF (at weeks 0 and 7 for Orthodox participants and at weeks 0 and 4 for Muslim participants). Results: In dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic Orthodox participants, a significant reduction of fasting glucose, HDL, LDL and TC levels was found post-RF. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin levels were significantly increased, while post-RF vitamin B12 and calcium levels were substantially decreased. Subanalysis between dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic Orthodox participants revealed a greater decrease of cholesterol levels in the former. In Muslim participants, triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol levels were increased post-RF (all pvalues < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study adds to the existing literature evidence about the significant impact of RF on metabolic and hematological profiles of Orthodox and Muslim followers. The prevention of calcium and B12 deficiency during Orthodox RF by supplement consumption as well as the protection from dehydration and dysregulation of lipid metabolism during Ramadan RF should concern both clinicians and dietician nutritionists. Nevertheless, studies with larger sample size and/or long-term follow-up are warranted before reaching definite conclusions about the effects of RF on human health.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in the feedback mode has been used to investigate the kinetics of dye regeneration on cis-di(thiocyanato)-bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4″-dicarboxylate) ruthenium(II)-sensitized TiO2photoelectrochemical electrodes in contact with room temperature ionic liquids electrolytes. Acetonitrile based electrolytes were used for comparison. The data are analyzed with the help of a revised model for relating steady state approach curves in the SECM feedback mode to an effective rate constant for the dye regeneration process. This effective rate constant summarizes the effect of electron transfer kinetics, mass transport of the mediator inside the porous electrode, and recombination processes. We found a remarkable dependence of the dye regeneration on the nature and concentration of deliberately added cations.