Managing Metabolic Syndrome with Yoga Practice: Insights into the Beneficial Effects
Yoga enthusiasts, often referred to as "yogis," tout the benefits of yoga for body and mind, but does science back it up? A recent study sheds light on this, focusing on the impact of yoga on individuals with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've covered numerous studies highlighting various ways in which yoga may contribute to overall health. For example, studies indicate that yoga can improve brain health, alleviate thyroid issues, and ease depression symptoms. It's also suggested that yoga can help males with prostate enlargement or erectile dysfunction, and be beneficial for those managing diabetes.
However, most of these studies are observational, meaning they don't establish causality, and few delve into the underlying mechanisms. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports provides some insight. This study, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, investigates the effects of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
Yoga Dials Down the Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome is often linked with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, around half of the adult population is estimated to have this condition.
Dr. Siu and his team previously found lower blood pressure and smaller waist circumferences among those practicing yoga for a year. In this new study, they explored the impact of a year of yoga in individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
The researchers randomly assigned 97 participants with metabolic syndrome to either a control group or a yoga group. While the control group received no intervention, participants in the yoga group attended three 1-hour yoga sessions each week for a year. Scientists also analyzed the participants' serum for adipokines, signaling proteins released by fat tissue, which prompt inflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses.
The study authors report their findings, stating, "[The] results demonstrated that 1-year yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with [metabolic syndrome] and high-normal blood pressure." This supports the idea that yoga may have a positive role in managing metabolic syndrome by modulating adipokines, potentially decreasing inflammation.
Dr. Siu comments on the results, saying, "These findings help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
In essence, this study indicates that a year of regular yoga practice could be a valuable lifestyle intervention, helping people with metabolic syndrome manage their symptoms by reducing inflammation.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports suggests that yoga may play a significant role in managing metabolic syndrome, particularly by reducing inflammation.
- In their findings, the study authors indicate that a year of yoga training decreases proinflammatory adipokines and increases anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- This research supports the idea that yoga, as a lifestyle intervention, could potentially be beneficial for individuals with chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome, where inflammation is often a contributing factor.
- As more studies continue to explore the benefits of yoga, it's becoming increasingly clear that yoga, combined with appropriate diet and exercise, can contribute to overall health and wellness in managing various medical conditions such as metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes.
