Yoga as a Tool for Controlling Metabolic Syndrome
Yoga, a practice popular among "yogis," is often praised for its physical and mental benefits. But what's the scientific lowdown? A new study sheds light, focusing on the impact of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been buzzing about studies showing that yoga could boost brain health, help manage thyroid issues, and alleviate depression symptoms. It’s even suggested that yoga can assist men with prostate enlargement and erectile dysfunction, or aid diabetes management.
However, most of these studies are observational, meaning we can't definitively link cause and effect. And there's been a lack of research into the underlying mechanisms.
Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China sought to change this with a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. The investigation focused on the effect of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
The study found that yoga benefits people with metabolic syndrome and even reveals the mechanisms behind these benefits.
Yoga Calms the Inflammatory Storm
Metabolic syndrome is often linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the U.S., about half of the adult population living with this condition remain undiagnosed.
Dr. Siu and his colleagues previously discovered that a year of yoga led to lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference. So, they wondered, what happens when people with metabolic syndrome practice yoga for a year?
They assigned 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure to either a control group or a yoga group. The yoga group partook in three 1-hour sessions each week for a year. Researchers kept a close eye on the participants' adipokines, signaling proteins that tell the immune system to release an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study authors concluded, "Our results demonstrated that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure."
"These findings suggest that yoga may be a valuable lifestyle intervention that could reduce inflammation and help those with metabolic syndrome manage their symptoms," add the researchers.
Dr. Siu comments on the findings, stating, "These results give insight into the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underscores the importance of consistent exercise for overall health."
The findings suggest that regular yoga practice might benefit those with metabolic syndrome by lessening inflammation, making it a potentially worthwhile addition to their treatment regimen.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports investigates the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health, focusing on individuals with metabolic syndrome.
- The study reveals that a year of yoga practice decreases proinflammatory adipokines and increases anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- These findings imply that yoga might be a valuable lifestyle intervention for managing inflammation in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
- The study adds to the growing body of research indicating that yoga could offer benefits for people with various chronic diseases, including type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular health.
