Effect of fasting on voice in males

Purpose of the study

The aim of the study was to study how fasting between 12 and 14 hours affects voice production.

Study design

This is a prospective study of male subjects.

Material and method

A total of 26 healthy male subjects were recruited for the study. The age varied between 22 and 50 years with a mean of 28 years. Exclusion criteria included hoarseness at the time of presentation, history of recent upper respiratory tract infection, or microlaryngeal surgery. Subjects were evaluated while fasting and nonfasting. Each subject was asked about vocal fatigue and ease of phonation. This was followed by acoustic analyses and laryngeal videostroboscopy.

Results

The incidence of vocal fatigue was not higher while fasting compared to nonfasting (P = 1.00). Phonatory effort was significantly greater during fasting (P < .001). Fifty percent of the subjects had an increase in their phonatory effort. There was a significant decrease in the habitual pitch, voice turbulence index, and noise-to-harmonic ratio (P = .018, .045, and .001, respectively). There were no laryngeal videostroboscopic changes.

Conclusion

Fasting in males results in an increase in phonatory effort. These phonatory changes may be secondary to dehydration as well as overall neuromuscular fatigability.