Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practice
Let's Dive Into the Impact of Yoga on Metabolic Health
Yogis sing praises of this ancient practice, claiming it offers arrant benefits for the body and mind. So, what does science have to say about it? A recent study dive deep into how yoga impacts people battling metabolic syndrome.
Here at Medical News Today, we've covered numerous studies extolling the numerous ways yoga may advantage our health. For instance, some research suggests it boosts brain health, enhances cognition, alleviates thyroid issues, and lessens the symptoms of depression.
It's even posited that practicing yoga could help men enlarge their prostate or conquer erectile dysfunction, and aid those with diabetes in managing their condition. But hold your horses: most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't draw definitive conclusions about causality. Plus, few have looked at the mechanisms behind these findings.
However, a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports is changing the game. Led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, this study examined the effect of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
The study found that yoga benefits individuals with metabolic syndrome and offered insights into the mechanisms behind these benefits.
Yoga Tames the Inflammatory Storm
Metabolic syndrome is a condition that frequently occurs alongside type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, it's estimated that a whopping 35% of the adult population grapple with this condition.
Dr. Siu and his team had previously discovered lower blood pressure and smaller waist circumferences among individuals who practiced yoga for a year. Consequently, in this latest study, they wanted to investigate the impact of a year of yoga on individuals with metabolic syndrome.
To do this, 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 1-hour yoga sessions each week for a year.
The researchers also monitored the participants' blood for so-called adipokines - signaling proteins released by fat tissue, encouraging the immune system to either release an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study's authors summed up their findings, stating, "[The] results demonstrated that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines 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," added the researchers.
These results indicate that yoga could be an outstanding lifestyle intervention, helping decrease inflammation and aiding individuals with metabolic syndrome in managing their symptoms.
Dr. Siu further commented on the study's results, saying, "These findings help to elucidate the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underscores the importance of regular exercise to human health."
While specific data from the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports regarding this study isn't presently available, it's plausible that a year of yoga training could have positive effects on inflammatory responses and metabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
If you're eager to delve deeper into the specific study, you may need to access the journal directly for the most up-to-date research findings.
Dr. Siu's latest study points towards yoga's potential in managing metabolic syndrome, finding a decrease in proinflammatory adipokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory adipokines among participants.
This study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, provides insights into the mechanisms behind the benefits of yoga for people with metabolic syndrome.
The study's results support the role of yoga as a beneficial lifestyle intervention for those dealing with metabolic disorders, as it helps decrease inflammation and manage symptoms.
Dr. Siu's research demonstrates the importance of regular exercise, particularly yoga, for human health, highlighting its potential impact on metabolic health and chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes.
As more studies continue to focus on the impact of yoga on health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and nutrition, we may uncover further benefits for individuals living with metabolic syndrome and various medical-conditions.
In the future, science may provide a clearer understanding of the causality between yoga practice and health improvements, as more longitudinal and mechanistic studies are conducted.
With the increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders like metabolic syndrome in the US and worldwide, exploring practices like yoga could lead to innovative approaches for preventing and managing chronic diseases.
