Managing Metabolic Syndrome Through Yoga Practice
Behind the hype of yoga's supposed health benefits, there's science to back it up. A recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports delved into the impact of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure. Interestingly, this study not only confirmed yoga's benefits, but it also elucidated the mechanisms behind them.
Approximately half of the adult population in the United States is thought to have metabolic syndrome, a condition often linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Parco M. Siu and his team, from the University of Hong Kong in China, aimed to investigate the effects of a year of yoga on this group.
The research involved 97 participants living with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure. Half of them were asked to maintain their usual routine while the other half attended three 1-hour yoga sessions weekly for a year.
The team noticed a significant decrease in proinflammatory adipokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory adipokines in the yoga group. Adipokines are proteins secreted by fat tissue that can either trigger an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
Dr. Siu and his colleagues concluded that regular yoga practice may help manage metabolic syndrome by favorably modulating adipokines, ultimately decreasing inflammation. The findings of this study add to the growing body of evidence suggesting yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention in the fight against metabolic syndrome and the reduction of inflammation.
When asked about the study's results, Dr. Siu stated, "These findings help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
Overall, the study did not offer extensive insights into the long-term effect of yoga practice on inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure. However, previous studies suggest that yoga may reducing stress and improving physiological states, which could influence inflammatory markers. More research is needed to understand the specific effects of yoga on inflammatory adipokines in this population.
In summary, the new study indicates that regular yoga practice could decrease inflammation and offer a beneficial lifestyle intervention for managing metabolic syndrome. Further research may help establish the full extent of its effects on inflammatory adipokines in this specific population.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports reveals that regular yoga practice could decrease inflammation in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- The research suggests that yoga may favorably modulate adipokines, proteins secreted by fat tissue, which could help manage metabolic syndrome and reduce inflammation.
- The findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention in the fight against metabolic syndrome and associated chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
- As Dr. Siu stated, the study's results help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, highlighting the importance of regular exercise and fitness-and-exercise routines like yoga for health-and-wellness and nutrition.
