Exploring the Benefits of Yoga for Managing Metabolic Syndrome
Yoga enthusiasts goes on and on about how the ancient practice can work wonders for the body and mind, but what's the science behind it all? A recent study explored this question, focusing on how yoga can impact individuals with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been keeping an eye on studies that suggest unique ways yoga could boost our health. From enhancing brain health and cognition to alleviating symptoms of depression and improving thyroid function, it seems like yoga's benefits are endless.
But most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Few studies have delved into the mechanisms behind these benefits.
A new study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, set out to change that. The research was spearheaded by Dr. Parco M. Siu of the University of Hong Kong in China and focused on the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
The findings were promising: not only did yoga benefit those with metabolic syndrome, but researchers also discovered the mechanisms driving these benefits.
Yoga Reduces Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome, which is frequently linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease, affects an estimated 49% of the adult population in the United States.
In a previous study, Dr. Siu and his team found that individuals who practiced yoga for a year had lower blood pressure and narrower waistlines. For the new study, they wanted to investigate the effects of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
To do so, they randomly assigned 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure to either a control group or a yoga group. Participants in the control group received no intervention, while those in the yoga group attended three one-hour yoga sessions each week for a year.
The researchers also monitored the participants' sera for adipokines, proteins released by fat tissue that communicate with the immune system to trigger either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study authors summarized their findings, stating, "Results demonstrated that 1-year yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokine in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure."
"These findings support the beneficial role of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome by favorably modulating adipokines," the researchers added.
The study's results suggest that yoga could be a worthwhile lifestyle intervention for people with metabolic syndrome, as it may help decrease inflammation and manage symptoms.
Dr. Siu also shared his thoughts on the findings, saying, "These findings help reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
Yoga's benefits, like its anti-inflammatory effects, are believed to be due to factors such as stress reduction, endocrine system modulation, immune system modulation, physical activity, the mind-body connection, and antioxidant effects. While the specific mechanisms behind Dr. Siu's study might not be detailed here, yoga's ability to reduce inflammation generally aligns with these pathways, promoting better health outcomes in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Consulting the study directly for precise details would be advisable.
- The new study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, delved into the science behind yoga's benefits for health-and-wellness, focusing on how it can impact individuals with metabolic disorders, particularly metabolic syndrome.
- Yoga's potential benefit for managing metabolic syndrome, as revealed in Dr. Siu's study, may be due to its anti-inflammatory effects, which align with factors such as stress reduction, endocrine system modulation, immune system modulation, physical activity, the mind-body connection, and antioxidant effects in fitness-and-exercise.
