Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practices
Yoga enthusiasts, often referred to as 'yogis', can't stop singing praises about the countless benefits of yoga for both body and mind. But what do the scientists say? A recent study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, delves into the impact of yoga on people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been reporting on a myriad of studies highlighting the diverse ways in which yoga might boost our health. Some studies suggest yoga improves brain health and cognitive function, aids in alleviating thyroid issues, and lightens the burden of depression symptoms.
It's also been proposed that yoga can benefit men by enhancing their prostate size or assisting in overcoming erectile dysfunction, and it offers a helping hand to those with diabetes by managing their symptoms. So, it seems that yoga is the magic pill for almost every health concern.
However, most of these studies are observational; they can't draw firm conclusions regarding causality. Few studies have explored the underlying mechanisms that might cause these improvements.
This study, led by Dr. Siu, decided to investigate the influence of yoga on cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a prevalent condition, especially in the United States, where it's estimated to afflict around 50% of the adult population.
Previously, Dr. Siu and his colleagues observed a drop in blood pressure and a reduction in waist circumference among individuals who practiced yoga for a year. In this study, they wanted to examine the impact of a year of yoga on individuals diagnosed 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. Participants in the control group maintained their regular routines, while those in the yoga group attended three, one-hour yoga sessions every week for a year.
Throughout the study period, the researchers monitored the patients' sera for adipokines, a type of signaling protein released by fat tissue that triggers either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study's findings revealed that a year of yoga practice decreased proinflammatory adipokines and elevated anti-inflammatory adipokines in individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure. These findings emphasize the positive role of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome by moderating adipokines.
Dr. Siu noted the study's findings, stating, "These findings shed light on the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underlines the importance of regular exercise to human health."
These results suggest that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention that reduces inflammation and helps people with metabolic syndrome manage their symptoms more effectively.
- Yoga, practiced for a year, appears to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, according to a study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu.
- The study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, found that a year of yoga practice decreased proinflammatory adipokines and elevated anti-inflammatory adipokines in participants with metabolic syndrome, highlighting its potential role in managing metabolic syndrome.
- The implications of this research suggest that yoga could be a beneficial lifestyle intervention for people with metabolic disorders, particularly metabolic syndrome, as it aids in reducing inflammation and managing chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes.
- Thus, incorporating yoga into health-and-wellness routines, along with appropriate nutrition and fitness-and-exercise, may serve as an effective strategy for managing various medical-conditions and chronic-diseases.
