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World J Radiol. Mar 28, 2026; 18(3): 117162
Published online Mar 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i3.117162
Published online Mar 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i3.117162
Metabolic profiles and hepatic steatosis assessed by controlled attenuation parameter and elastography during Ramadan fasting in San Antonio, United States
Jazza Jamil, Department of Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States
Sabahat Ali, Department of Medicine, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
Arif Ahmad, Department of Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar 25000, Khyber Pakh
Mohammed Al-Zakwani, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
Anum Gul, Department of Surgery, Gandhara University, Peshawar 25000, Khyber Pakh
Pir A Shah, Department of Medicine, Creighton School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States
Suhaib Haq, Department of Medicine, El Bari Community Health Center, San Antonio, TX 78212, United States
Eric Lawitz, Department of Hepatology, Texas Liver Institute, San Antonio, TX 78215, United States
Author contributions: Jamil J, Ali S, Ahmad A, Al-Zakwani M, and Shah PA designed the research study; Jamil J, Ali S, Al-Zakwani M, Gul A, Shah PA, and Haq S performed the research; Jamil A, Al-Zakwani M, Ali S, Shah PA, and Lawitz E analyzed and interpreted the data. All authors contributed to the writing and final approval of the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Center for Institutional Review Board Intelligence Platform (approval No. Pro00061668).
Clinical trial registration statement: This study was not registered as a clinical trial, as it did not meet the criteria for mandatory trial registration.
Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The CONSORT 2010 checklist does not apply.
Data sharing statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Pir A Shah, Department of Medicine, Creighton School of Medicine, 3100 Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States. pirashah2020@gmail.com
Received: December 1, 2025
Revised: December 9, 2025
Accepted: January 15, 2026
Published online: March 28, 2026
Processing time: 116 Days and 11.9 Hours
Revised: December 9, 2025
Accepted: January 15, 2026
Published online: March 28, 2026
Processing time: 116 Days and 11.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Ramadan fasting is a culturally significant, time-restricted dietary practice whose effects on hepatic steatosis and metabolic health are not well characterized in South Asian populations especially residing in United States. In this prospective observational study of 41 adults in San Antonio, metabolic profiles, body mass index, and liver parameters were measured before and after 30 days of fasting. Hepatic steatosis was quantified by controlled attenuation parameter and fibrosis by elastography. Fasting led to significant reductions in body weight and controlled attenuation parameter-measured steatosis, regardless of baseline body mass index, highlighting the potential radiologic and metabolic benefits of Ramadan fasting.