Managing Metabolic Syndrome through Yoga Practices
Swap those Downward Dogs for Fighting Inflammation: How Yoga Affects Metabolic Syndrome
Hey there! You've probably heard yoga enthusiasts preach about its health benefits, but what's the real science behind it? A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports dives deep into this topic, focusing on yoga's impact on people with metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been buzzing about numerous studies suggesting yoga could boost brain health, improve thyroid issues, and even help manage depression. But, it's essential to note that many of these studies are observational, so we can't definitively say these benefits are directly attributed to yoga.
The recent research, led by Dr. Parco M. Siu from the University of Hong Kong in China, looks at how yoga could pave the way for better cardiometabolic health.
Limber Up for Lower Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome often appears alongside type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Approximately one-third of the adult population in the United States is believed to have the condition.
Previous research by Dr. Siu's team discovered lower blood pressure and smaller waist circumferences in those who practiced yoga for a year. Intrigued, they set out to explore the effect of a year-long yoga practice in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
The researchers assigned 97 participants into either a control group or a yoga group. Participants in the yoga group participated in three one-hour yoga sessions every week for a year, while those in the control group received no intervention but regular health status check-ins.
The scientists also studied the participants' serum for adipokines - proteins released by fat tissue that relay inflammatory or anti-inflammatory signals to the immune system.
The study authors summarized 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."
The findings support the idea that yoga could be a beneficial lifestyle intervention to manage metabolic syndrome by favorably altering adipokines.
Dr. Siu shared his thoughts on the study results, saying, "These findings help reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
Yoga's Secret Sauce: Multiple Mechanisms for Health
So, how does yoga reduce inflammation? It seems that yoga's magic lies in its various effects on gene expression, stress hormone regulation, and metabolic adjustments. Research suggests that yoga can modulate the body's gene expression to reduce chronic inflammation, decrease activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to reduce cortisol secretion, and promote beneficial physiological adaptations.
These changes work together to contribute to better inflammatory control and, ultimately, improved metabolic health. This multi-mechanistic approach positions yoga as a potent tool to combat the chronic low-grade inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome and high-normal hypertension.
- The study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports explores the impact of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
- Intrigued by previous findings, Dr. Siu's team conducted a study to observe the effect of a year-long yoga practice in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- The study authors concluded that a year of yoga training decreased proinflammatory adipokines and increased anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- Research suggests that the benefits of yoga in managing metabolic syndrome might stem from effects on gene expression, stress hormone regulation, and metabolic adjustments, contributing to better inflammatory control and improved metabolic health.
