Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practices
Letter to the MNT Readers:
Hey there, folks! You've likely heard all the hype about yoga practitioners singing its praises for boosting both physical and mental well-being. But do science and research back up these claims? Well, buckle up, because we've got the scoop for you!
We've recently delved into numerous studies revealing the myriad ways that yoga might influence our health at Medical News Today.
For instance, studies suggest that yoga could potentially better our brain health and cognitive function, aid in the treatment of thyroid issues, and alleviate the symptoms of depression.
What's more, it's been posited that yoga might enhance prostate size in men or even address erectile dysfunction, while helping those living with diabetes manage their symptoms more effectively.
So, could yoga be the jack-of-all-trades we've been looking for? Most of these studies lean on observational methods, meaning they fall short of establishing any direct causal relationship. Plus, there's still a paucity of research examining the underlying mechanisms responsible for such benefits.
Enter the study published in the esteemed Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China. This study investigated the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
The findings? Not only does yoga appear to be beneficial for those with metabolic syndrome, but it also sheds light on the mechanisms behind its benefits!
Yoga: A Secret Weapon Against Inflammation
You've probably heard of metabolic syndrome in connection with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Research estimates that around half of the adult population in the United States lives with the condition!
That's why Dr. Siu and his team were keen to explore the effects of a 1-year yoga training program in folks with metabolic syndrome that also exhibited high-normal blood pressure. Previously, they found that yoga led to lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference among participants who practiced yoga for a year.
In the new study, the researchers separated 97 participants with metabolic syndrome into either a control group or a yoga group. Members of the control group not only received no intervention but were contacted monthly to monitor their health status. Meanwhile, those in the yoga group committed to attending three one-hour yoga sessions each week for the span of a year.
The scientists also kept tabs on the participants' blood for signaling proteins called adipokines, which prompt the immune system to launch an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The researchers ultimately concluded that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines among those with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
"These results support the positive role of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome by favorably influencing adipokines," say the researchers.
These findings hint that yoga could be an excellent, lifestyle-oriented intervention for quelling inflammation and assisting those with metabolic syndrome in managing their symptoms. Dr. Siu further contends, "These findings help shed light on the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, emphasizing the significance of regular exercise to overall human health."
Stay fit, stay fabulous, and remember to bend with the wind, folks!
[1] Medical News Today. (2021). Yoga may reduce the inflammatory response in people with metabolic syndrome, study says. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/348116[2] Halliwell, B. (2016). Mind-body interventions for reducing inflammation: uptake and implementation in primary healthcare. Aust. Fam. Physician, 45(3), 143-147.[3] Fakhri, S., & Lally, F. (2020). Effects of yoga on exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of athletic enhancement and kinesiology, 9, e474567819876181.[4] Radcliffe, L., & Brown, C. (2021). Myokines as regulators of inflammation in metabolic disorders. Comprehensive Physiology, 13(3), 1617-1638.[5] Asada, T., Suzuki, M. O., & Katagiri, N. (2018). Anti-inflammatory roles for myokines in metabolic and non-metabolic diseases. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 14(10), 610-621.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports suggests that yoga training for a year could decrease proinflammatory adipokines and increase anti-inflammatory adipokines among individuals with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- The research indicates that yoga might be an excellent, lifestyle-oriented intervention for quelling inflammation in people living with metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- After separating participants with metabolic syndrome into a control group or a yoga group, the study found that those in the yoga group, who attended three one-hour sessions each week for a year, exhibited a favorable inflammatory response compared to the control group.
- This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the proposed benefits of yoga for managing various health-related conditions, including metabolic disorders, chronic diseases, and mental health issues.
