Managing metabolic syndrome with the aid of yoga practices
A new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports has examined the effect of yoga on individuals with metabolic syndrome, finding that it not only benefits these individuals but also unveils the mechanisms behind these benefits.
Metabolic syndrome, a condition commonly associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, is thought to affect approximately 34% of the adult population in the United States. Led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, the study investigated the impact of one year of yoga on cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
The research involved 97 participants, who were randomly assigned to either a control group or a yoga group. While the control group did not receive any intervention, participants in the yoga group underwent a yoga training program comprising three one-hour sessions per week for a year.
Sera samples were collected from participants to monitor adipokines, signaling proteins produced by fat tissue that instruct the immune system to release either an inflammatory or an anti-inflammatory response. The findings demonstrated that one year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
The results support the idea that yoga can play a significant role in managing metabolic syndrome by favorably modulating adipokines. Speaking about the study, Dr. Siu stated, "These findings help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
The study is among several that Medical News Today has reported on, highlighting the potential benefits of yoga on various aspects of health, including brain health, depression, thyroid problems, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes. While many of these studies are observational and cannot establish causality, the latest research provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in the benefits of yoga for metabolic syndrome.
Moreover, the study aligns with the current understanding of how mind-body practices like yoga can reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health. These benefits are thought to result from various mechanisms, including stress reduction, improved autonomic function, metabolic improvements, immune modulation, and positive behavioral changes.
In conclusion, this study suggests that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention for individuals with metabolic syndrome, helping to decrease inflammation and manage symptoms. Regular exercise is crucial for human health, and the findings of this study underscore the importance of incorporating yoga into overall health maintenance practices.
- Yoga, found to have significant benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome, could potentially be a valuable lifestyle intervention for managing symptoms.
- The latest study on yoga reveals how it can impact adipokines, signaling proteins, in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- The Scandinavian study adds to the growing evidence that yoga, as a mind-body practice, can reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health.
- As mind-body practices like yoga have shown potential in modulating adipokines, they can contribute to the overall health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition strategies for managing chronic-diseases such as metabolic disorders and type-2-diabetes.
