Exploring the Potential of Yoga for Managing Metabolic Syndrome
Yoga enthusiasts, often known as yogis, are always singing praise about the transformative effects of yoga on both the body and mind. But what does science truly say? A recent study dives deep into understanding how yoga affects individuals living with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been vocal about numerous studies pointing towards yoga's potential benefits for health, such as enhancing brain health, alleviating symptoms of depression, and even helping combat thyroid issues and erectile dysfunction.
However, most of these studies are observational, meaning they don't establish causality, and few have delved into the intricate mechanisms that could be behind these findings.
But a study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, explores the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
The results reveal not only benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome but also shed light on the underlying mechanisms.
Yoga keeps inflammation at bay
Metabolic syndrome, associate with conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, affects approximately of the adult population in the United States.
In a previous study, Dr. Siu and his team discovered lower blood pressure and smaller waist circumference in individuals who practiced yoga for a year. For the new study, they sought to investigate the influence of a year of yoga on those with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
Compared to a control group that received no intervention, individuals in the yoga group participated in three 1-hour sessions per week for a year. The scientists also monitored patients' adipokines, signaling proteins that dictate either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response from the immune system.
The researchers conclude that a year of yoga practice "decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with [metabolic syndrome] and high-normal blood pressure." This evidence supports yoga's role in managing metabolic syndrome by fostering a favorable adipokine response.
Dr. Siu discusses the study's findings, remarking, "These findings help to unveil the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, emphasizing the significance of regular exercise for overall health."
These findings suggest that yoga might serve as a valuable lifestyle intervention for reducing inflammation and managing symptoms in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, explored the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
- The results of the study revealed benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome, as a year of yoga practice "decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines" in this group.
- This evidence suggests that yoga could play a role in managing metabolic syndrome by fostering a favorable adipokine response, which might help reduce inflammation and symptoms.
- In light of these findings, regular yoga practice could potentially serve as a valuable lifestyle intervention for individuals with metabolic syndrome, contributing positively to their health and wellness.
