Managing Metabolic Syndrome with Yoga Practice
Yogis, the folks who practice yoga, always go on about how it benefits the mind and body. But what does the science actually say? A recent study explored this, focusing on how yoga affects individuals with metabolic syndrome.
Here at Medical News Today, we've been reporting on various studies demonstrating the various ways yoga might contribute to our health. For example, some studies hint at enhancements in brain health and cognition, improvements in thyroid issues, and alleviating depression symptoms.
It seems yoga could do wonders for just about everything. However, most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't establish causality, and only a few have delved into the hidden mechanisms behind the findings.
However, a new study — published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and spearheaded by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China — looked into the effects of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
This study not only proved beneficial for people with metabolic syndrome, but it also uncovered the mechanisms behind these benefits.
Yoga reduces inflammation response
Metabolic syndrome is a condition commonly associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, it's estimated that roughly one-third of the adult population has this condition.
Dr. Siu and his team had previously conducted research showing lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference among those who practiced yoga for a year. Consequently, in the new study, the researchers wanted to examine the impact of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
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 weekly for a year.
The researchers also monitored the patients' sera for adipokines — signaling proteins released by fat tissue, prompting the immune system to either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study authors summarize their findings, saying, "The results showed that a year of 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 results suggest that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention, decreasing inflammation and aiding individuals with metabolic syndrome in managing their symptoms.
Dr. Siu also commented on the study's findings, saying, "These findings provide insights into the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which highlights the importance of regular exercise for human health."
- The study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong found that yoga can significantly reduce proinflammatory adipokines and increase anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- This research, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, reveals that yoga can be a beneficial lifestyle intervention for managing metabolic syndrome, as it favorably modulates adipokines.
- The reduced inflammation response observed in the study indicates that yoga could potentially help individuals with metabolic syndrome better manage their symptoms.
- Given the significant role of adipokines in the immune system's response to inflammation and the link between metabolic syndrome, chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, and heart disease, further studies are warranted to explore the long-term effects of yoga on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition.
