Nafdac boss urges Nigerians to fast in moderation as excessive fasting can cause kidney damage

NIGERIA'S National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) has warned that excessive fasting can create serious health problems as it has the potential to lead to severe kidney damage.

Deeply religious, Nigerians often resort to constant prayers and fasting  to get round their constant plethora of socio-economic woes and personal problems. Warning that they should fast in moderation, however, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Nafdac director-general urged Nigerians to fast with common sense or pay with their kidneys.

Professor Adeyeye said: “We are a very religious country and Muslims and Christians fast a lot and it is part of the kidney problem. Your body has to have homeostasis balance, meaning the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function.

"Some people will fast for 10, 20 days, without drinking a lot of water and during this time the kidney is being punished.  Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in an exponential manner, with damage to the kidneys because the kidney does not have enough water to dilute and filter.

“I fast but I fast with common sense. We have to fast with common sense, if not, we will pay for it with our kidneys. Also, do not buy medicines from hawkers and corner stores but from pharmacies.”