Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practice
Yoga enthusiasts, or "yogis," are always singing the praises of this ancient practice, claiming it benefits both their body and mind. But what does cold, hard science have to say? A new study sheds light, focusing on the impact of yoga on individuals dealing with metabolic syndrome.
Here at Medical News Today, we have been reporting on a plethora of studies highlighting various ways in which yoga might boost our health.
Case in point, some research suggests that yoga enhances brain function and cognition, provides relief for thyroid issues, and eases the symptoms of depression. It's also been proposing that practicing yoga could help men deal with enlarged prostates, ED (erectile dysfunction), and even manage diabetes symptoms.
However, most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't draw iron-clad conclusions concerning causality, and only a few have investigated the mechanisms underlying these findings.
But a study, recently published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports led by Dr. Parco M. Siu of the University of Hong Kong in China, took a closer look at the effect of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
The results showed that yoga is indeed beneficial for individuals grappling with metabolic syndrome—and here's the kicker: they revealed the mechanisms behind these benefits!
Yoga Accounts for a Check on Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and in the United States, it's estimated that about half of the adult population is living with this condition.
In a previous study, Dr. Siu and his colleagues found that one year of yoga led to lower blood pressure and a smaller waistline. So, for the current study, they wanted to delve deeper, examining the impact of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
To do this, they randomly assigned 97 individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure to either a control group or a yoga group.
The participants in the control group received no intervention but had regular health status check-ups. In contrast, the yoga group underwent a training program consisting of three 1-hour yoga sessions per week for a full year.
The researchers also kept tabs on the patients' sera, checking for proteins called adipokines. These proteins act as signals sent by fat tissue to the immune system, either triggering an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study authors summarize their findings, stating, "The 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," they add.
The results of this study suggest that yoga could be an excellent lifestyle choice for people dealing with metabolic syndrome as it can potentially decrease inflammation and help them manage their condition.
Dr. Siu weighed in on the study's results, stating, "These findings offer insights into the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, underscoring the importance of regular exercise for human health."
- The recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, focused on the impact of yoga on individuals dealing with metabolic syndrome and revealed the mechanisms behind these benefits.
- The study's authors found that a year of yoga led to decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- This research supports the beneficial role of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome by favorably modulating adipokines, potentially making it an excellent lifestyle choice for people dealing with the condition.
- Regular exercise, such as yoga, is crucial for human health, as evidenced by the study's findings that offer insights into the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise.
