The effect of Ramadan fasting on the diurnal variations in aerobic and anaerobic performances in Tunisian youth soccer players

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on physical performance in youth Muslim athletes their diurnal fluctuations. In a balanced and randomized study design, 10 Tunisian junior male soccer players completed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIRT) and the repeated sprint ability (RSA) at 07: 00 and 17: 00 h on three different occasions: 1 week before Ramadan (BR), the second week of Ramadan (SWR) and the fourth week of Ramadan (ER). There was an interval of 36 h between any two successive tests. Oral temperature was measured before each test. Under each condition, the results showed a time-of-day effect on oral temperature. However, no significant diurnal variations in rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were observed during the three periods (BR, SWR and ER). Performances during the YYIRT and the first two sprints of the RSA improved significantly from morning to evening during BR. However, daily fluctuations disappeared during the SWR and ER. Considering the effect of Ramadan on physical performances, in comparison with BR, no significant difference was observed during Ramadan at 07: 00 h. However, the variables were significantly lower in SWR and ER at 17: 00 h. The RPE scores were higher during SWR and ER in the evening after the YYIRT and RSA tests. In conclusion, the time-of-day effects on physical performances variables tend to disappear during Ramadan. In comparison with the period BR, physical performances were unaffected at 07: 00 h but impaired at 17: 00 h during Ramadan.