Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practice
In a new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, researchers from the University of Hong Kong investigated the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health, focusing on its benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome. The study found that a year-long yoga training program decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in those with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, suggesting that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention for managing symptoms.
Metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease, is estimated to affect approximately 34% of the adult population in the United States. Previous research has shown lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference in those who practiced yoga for a year. In this study, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, the researchers aimed to examine the effect of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
The study randomized 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure into either a control group or a yoga group. While the control group received no intervention, the yoga group underwent a 1-hour yoga session three times per week for a year. The researchers also monitored the patients' sera for adipokines, signaling proteins released by the fat tissue that signal an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The results showed that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure. The findings support the beneficial role of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome by favorably modulating adipokines.
The study provides insights into the mechanisms behind the benefits of yoga. Yoga reduces stress through mindfulness and meditation techniques, which in turn lower cortisol levels and balance stress hormones, both of which contribute to reducing inflammation. Additionally, yoga modulates cytokine levels, improving insulin sensitivity, and influencing lipid metabolism, all of which help manage inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Siu commented on the study's results, emphasizing the importance of regular exercise for human health. The findings provide evidence for the beneficial role of yoga in managing inflammation and metabolic syndrome, suggesting that it could be a valuable addition to current treatments for these conditions.
In the scope of this study, yoga was found to potentially alleviate symptoms of metabolic syndrome, especially for individuals with high-normal blood pressure, as a year-long yoga training program enhanced anti-inflammatory adipokines and diminished proinflammatory adipokines. Therefore, incorporating yoga as a lifestyle intervention in health-and-wellness routines, such as fitness-and-exercise regimens, could provide significant benefits for managing metabolic disorders and promoting overall health.
