Yoga as a potential aid in managing metabolic syndrome conditions
Going Gaga for Yoga:
Love it or loathe it, the hype surrounding yoga is undeniable. Those who practice this ancient art often sing its praises for boosting mental and physical health. But is all the fuss justified? We delve into a new study focused on how yoga influences the health of individuals suffering from metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been reporting on numerous studies showcasing the myriad benefits of yoga. For instance, research has suggested that it enhances brain function and cognition, improves thyroid problems, and lessens depression symptoms.
Moreover, yoga is said to help men combat an enlarged prostate or erectile dysfunction and aid those with diabetes in managing their symptoms. However, it's essential to remember that most of these studies are observational, meaning they can'taclify the cause-and-effect relationship.
According to a new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and led by Dr. Parco M. Siu of the University of Hong Kong in China, yoga might indeed be a game-changer for those with metabolic syndrome.
Yoga: More than Stretching and Breathing
Metabolic syndrome is a condition associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, it's estimated that about half the adult population lives with it.
Dr. Siu and his team previously researched lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference among those who practiced yoga for a year. In this study, they wanted to investigate the effect of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
The researchers randomly assigned 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure to either a control group or a yoga group. Those in the control group received no intervention, while participants in the yoga group attended three 1-hour sessions every week for an entire year.
The scientists also monitored the patients' sera for adipokines, or signaling proteins that influence the immune system’s inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study authors declared their findings, stating, "[The] results demonstrated that 1-year 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," added the researchers.
The study's findings suggest that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention to decrease inflammation and help those with metabolic syndrome control their symptoms.
Dr. Siu also weighed in 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 for human health."
So, there you have it — proof that yoga isn't just for bending and breathing, but can have significant, even life-changing, impacts on health!
- Metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease, affects approximately half the adult population in the United States.
- A new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports suggests that yoga might be beneficial for individuals with metabolic syndrome.
- The study, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu of the University of Hong Kong in China, found that 1-year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- This research supports the idea that yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention to decrease inflammation and help manage symptoms in people with metabolic syndrome.
- Yoga is said to offer various health benefits, ranging from enhancing brain function and cognition to aiding those with diabetes in managing their symptoms, but it's essential to remember that most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't define the cause-and-effect relationship.
- The study's findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that yoga may have significant, possibly life-changing, impacts on health and wellness, especially for those suffering from chronic diseases like metabolic disorders.
- Fitness and exercise, including yoga, combined with proper nutrition, play a crucial role in maintaining and improving overall health and managing various medical conditions, including metabolic disorders and chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes.
