Managing Metabolic Syndrome Through Yoga Practice
Yoga enthusiasts, often referred to as 'yogis', are always drooling over its supposed health benefits for mind and body. But do the science and research back these claims? To find out, a recent study evaluated the effects of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been buzzing about several studies suggesting that yoga could offer a plethora of health advantages, such as enhancing brain health and cognition, aiding in managing thyroid issues, alleviating depression symptoms, and even assisting men with prostate enlargement or erectile dysfunction.
However, most of these studies are observational and unable to establish causality. Additionally, there haven't been many investigations into the underlying mechanisms behind these findings.
But a study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, highlighted the impact of yoga on cardiometabolic health.
This study found that yoga isn't just good for your health – it actually benefits those with metabolic syndrome and reveals the intricacies behind such benefits.
A crash course in cellular signaling
Metabolic syndrome is a common comorbidity with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A startling 34% of the adult U.S. population is estimated to have metabolic syndrome.
Previous research conducted by Dr. Siu's team revealed that 1 year of yoga practice lowered blood pressure and reduced waist circumference. In this study, they aimed to examine the effect of 1 year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
The researchers randomly divided 97 participants into a control group and a yoga group. Participants in the control group received no intervention other than monthly health status checks. On the other hand, those in the yoga group attended three 1-hour yoga sessions weekly for a year.
The scientists also monitored the participants' sera for adipokines – proteins released by fat tissue, signaling the immune system to either trigger an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study's findings reveal, "[The] results demonstrated that 1-year yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adi- pokine in adults with [metabolic syndrome] and high-normal blood pressure."
The findings of this study suggest that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention that helps decrease inflammation and manage metabolic syndrome symptoms.
Dr. Siu commented on the study's results, saying, "These findings help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
In a nutshell, this study provides compelling evidence that incorporating yoga into your routine might just be what your overworked immune system needs to fight off inflammation. Now you know – if you've been considering giving yoga a shot, this study adds yet another compelling reason to dive in.
- The study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, indicates that yoga could be beneficial for individuals with metabolic syndrome, offering insights into the mechanisms behind these benefits.
- Yoga, as demonstrated by Dr. Parco M. Siu's study, may help reduce inflammation in people with metabolic syndrome by decreasing proinflammatory adipokines and increasing anti-inflammatory adipokines.
- Incorporating yoga into one's routine might serve as a valuable lifestyle intervention, potentially aiding in the management of metabolic syndrome symptoms and overall health.
- As more research continues to unfold the health advantages of yoga, it is worth considering its potential role in preventing and managing chronic diseases such as metabolic disorders, type-2 diabetes, and other medical conditions, particularly in the realm of health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and nutrition.
