Managing Metabolic Syndrome with Yoga: Yoga Practice as a Potential Treatment
It's no secret that yogis claim yoga offers a slew of health benefits, but does science back these claims? A recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports sheds some light on how yoga could aid those with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been reporting on numerous studies spotlighting various ways yoga might boost our health. From enhancing brain health to alleviating depression symptoms, yoga seems like a miracle cure for just about everything. However, many of these studies are observational, meaning they don't establish a causal link. This research sought to investigate the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
If you're unfamiliar, metabolic syndrome is a condition closely associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and it's estimated that around 50% of the adult population in the United States live with it. Previous research from the team behind this study found better blood pressure and smaller waistlines among subjects who practiced yoga for a year, so they wanted to see if this held true for those with metabolic syndrome.
For the study, the researchers divided 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure into two groups: a control group and a yoga group. Participants in the control group received no intervention, while the yoga group attended three hour-long sessions each week for a year. The scientists also monitored the participants' adipokines - proteins released by fat tissue that can trigger an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The results showed that yoga practice significantly decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in participants with metabolic syndrome. In essence, yoga appears to help modulate inflammatory responses, which could help those with metabolic syndrome manage their symptoms.
Dr. Siu, the lead author on the study, comments that these findings demonstrate how yoga can positively impact metabolic health over the long term. Moreover, by providing a mechanism for these benefits, the results highlight the importance of regular physical activity in maintaining good health. So, if you're dealing with metabolic syndrome, it might be worth giving yoga a try.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports revealed that yoga practice could potentially aid those with metabolic syndrome, a condition often linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- In the said research, participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure were divided into two groups: one who attended weekly yoga sessions and another with no intervention.
- After monitoring adipokines - proteins that can trigger an inflammatory response - the study found that yoga significantly decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory ones in participants with metabolic syndrome.
- Dr. Siu, leader of the study, implied that these results indicate that yoga can positively impact metabolic health in the long term, emphasizing the significance of regular physical activity, such as yoga, in promoting overall health and wellness, especially for those coping with chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome.
