Excessive fasting, risky to kidney — NAFDAC

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned Nigerians against engaging in prolonged fasting since it could be harmful to their kidneys.

Prof. Adeyeye stated that people who engage in lengthy fasting for religious reasons must moderate the practice. Prof. Adeyeye ascribed the high rate of renal disorders in Nigeria to the practice of prolonged fasting by some religious devotees.

She addressed to the media yesterday in Abuja about her agency’s success in locating large consignments of Tramadol and other medications headed for the Republic of Benin.

On the high rate of kidney problems in the country, she said:  “Kidney failure, we are a very religious country- Muslims and Christians fast a lot and it is part of the kidney problem.

“Your body has to have homeomistatic balance, meaning that the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function.

“Some people will fast for 10 or 20 days and drink only little water, the kidney is being punished. Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in exponential manner, it damages the kidney because the kidney doesn’t have water to dilute and filter.”

Adeyeye, who tasked Nigerians to fast but with common sense, added:  “I fast but with common sense. We have to fast with common sense, otherwise we will pay with our kidneys.”