Yoga as a potential aid for managing metabolic syndrome symptoms
Taking a casual spin through the world of health and wellness, it's clear that individuals who practice yoga, aka "yogis," claim outstanding overall benefits. But what's the real deal according to good ol' science? A fresh study investigates this, with a focus on how yoga might help those dealing with metabolic syndrome.
In our Micro-Cosmos of Medical News Today, we've gleamed insights from several studies hinting at yoga's potential health perks. For example, it could boost brain health and cognition, aide thyroid problems, relieve depression symptoms, and even tackle prostate issues or erectile dysfunction in men. Plus, it seems to play a role in managing diabetes symptoms.
Now here's the kicker: most of these studies are observational, meaning they can't confirm the cause-and-effect connection. Additionally, there's just a smattering of investigations delving into the underlying mechanisms responsible for the claimed benefits.
But that's where Dr. Parco M. Siu, whiz kid from the University of Hong Kong, steps in! This top scientist took a crack at exploring the influence of yoga on cardiometabolic health in a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
So, what did they find out? The study not only confirmed that yoga benefits folks with metabolic syndrome but also shed light on the underlying mechanisms behind these benefits.
Yoga Calms the Inflammatory Storm
Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and about 50% of the adult population in the United States reside within its clutches.
Building upon some earlier research indicating that 1-year of yoga practice resulted in lower blood pressure and a svelter waist circumference, the team decided to scrutinize the effects of a full year of yoga in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
To do this, they enlisted 97 participants with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, shuffling them between a control group and a yoga group. While there was no special treatment for the control group, the yogis endured three 1-hour sessions of yoga per week for a solid year.
Researchers also monitored the patients' sera for adipokines, which are the signaling proteins secreted by fat tissue, instructing the immune system to orchestrate either an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
In a nutshell, the study found that 1-year of yoga training diminished pro-inflammatory adipokines and amplified anti-inflammatory ones in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
"In other words," say the researchers, "'yoga helped dial down the inflammatory noise, while rallying the anti-inflammatory troops.'" These results support the notion that yoga could be an excellent lifestyle intervention for managing metabolic syndrome by suppressing inflammation.
Dr. Siu echoes these findings, adding, "These findings help shed light on the reaction of adipokines to long-term yoga practice, emphasizing the necessity of regular exercise for human health."
In this "yoga-tazed" study, we now know that yoga may have significant anti-inflammatory effects in handling metabolic syndrome. Hip hip hooray for yoga!
Yoga's potential in managing metabolic syndrome and its associated conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease has been investigated in the realms of medical science and health and wellness. A study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu focusing on cardiometabolic health found that a year of regular yoga practice could diminish pro-inflammatory adipokines and amplify anti-inflammatory ones in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure, suggesting that yoga could be an effective lifestyle intervention in suppressing inflammation associated with these medical-conditions.
