An interventional study of Monday-Thursday Sunnah Dry Fasting in Obesity & Overweight and Gut -Microbiota, sponsored by University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta. Completed at 1 site in Indonesia. Open to male participants aged 19 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-14.
Sponsored by University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of Monday-Thursday Sunnah fasting on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), fasting total GLP-1, appetite regulation (hunger and satiety area under the curve), dietary intake, and body composition in obese adult males in Indonesia.
Monday-Thursday Sunnah fasting is a twice-weekly Islamic religious practice involving complete abstention from food and water (dry fasting) from dawn (approximately 04:30) to sunset (approximately 18:00), approximately 13 hours per day, practiced by millions of Indonesian Muslims. Unlike conventional intermittent fasting protocols, Sunnah fasting is motivated by religious observance, which may enhance adherence.
Seventy-four obese adult males were enrolled (intervention n=38, control n=36). The intervention group performed 16 fasting days over 8 weeks without any caloric restriction outside fasting hours. Fecal SCFA were measured by GC-MS; fasting total GLP-1 by ELISA; appetite by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); dietary intake by 24-hour recall; and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Primary analyses used linear mixed models (LMM) controlling for baseline differences arising from the sequential allocation design.
Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a strategy to favorably modulate gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in obesity. However, most published protocols involve wet fasting (caloric restriction with ad libitum water), which is mechanistically distinct from dry fasting. Monday-Thursday Sunnah fasting, an established Islamic practice, involves complete abstention from food and water (dry fasting) for approximately 13 hours twice weekly.
This study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, from October to December 2025. Eligible participants were obese adult males (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², waist circumference > 90 cm) aged ≥ 19 years, with no recent history of antibiotic use, probiotic supplementation, or other IF practice.
Recruitment was performed sequentially: eligible participants were first assigned to the intervention group until quota was met; subsequent eligible participants were assigned to the control group. LMM was adopted as the confirmatory analysis to account for significant baseline group differences resulting from this design.
The intervention group performed Monday-Thursday dry fasting for 8 consecutive weeks (16 fasting days total). No dietary restrictions were imposed outside fasting hours. The control group maintained habitual diet and lifestyle.
Outcomes were assessed at baseline (Week 1) and endpoint (Week 8), with appetite and dietary intake also assessed at Week 4. Primary laboratory analyses (SCFA by GC-MS, GLP-1 by ELISA) were conducted at Prodia Clinical Laboratory, Indonesia.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants performed Monday-Thursday Sunnah dry fasting for 8 consecutive weeks (16 fasting days). Dry fasting entailed complete abstention from food and water from dawn (\~04:30) to sunset (\~18:00), approximately 13 hours per day. No dietary restrictions were imposed outside fasting hours.
Behavioral: Monday-Thursday Sunnah Dry Fasting
Participants maintained their habitual diet and lifestyle without any fasting intervention for 8 weeks. Both groups were instructed not to modify physical activity or initiate new supplements during the study period.
Twice-weekly daytime dry fasting (no food or water) from approximately 04:30 to 18:00 (\~13 hours), performed every Monday and Thursday for 8 consecutive weeks. This practice is based on Islamic religious Sunnah. No caloric restriction was imposed outside fasting hours.
Total Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids
Total fecal SCFA concentration (acetate + propionate + butyrate + valerate) measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI calculated from measured body weight (kg) and height (m²)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Satiety Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Satiety assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at four daily timepoints (08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00); satiety AUC calculated using trapezoidal method (mm·hours)
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, and 8
Fasting Total GLP-1
Fasting plasma total GLP-1 (pmol/L) measured by validated commercial ELISA after ≥8-12 hours fasting
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Hunger AUC
Hunger assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at four daily timepoints; hunger AUC calculated using trapezoidal method (mm·hours)
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, and 8
Body Weight
Body weight (kg) measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Omron HBF-375)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Waist Circumference
Waist circumference (cm) measured at midpoint between lowest rib and iliac crest
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Visceral Fat Level
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) level derived from BIA (Omron HBF-375)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Body Fat Percentage
Body fat percentage (%) measured by BIA (Omron HBF-375)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 1) and Week 8
Dietary Fiber Intake
Dietary fiber intake (g/day) assessed by three 24-hour dietary recalls per week, analyzed using Indonesian Food Composition Table 2020
Time frame: Weeks 1, 4, and 8
Plan to share: No
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