The Lowdown on Yoga: A Science-Backed Approach to Metabolic Syndrome
Utilizing yoga as a tool to control metabolic syndrome symptoms
The yoga-loving folks you bump into regularly rave about its mind and body benefits. But what's the real deal? Let's dig into the science! A recent study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports sheds light on how yoga can help combat metabolic syndrome.
At Medical News Today, we've been keeping you posted on studies highlighting the diverse advantages yoga might have for your health.
For instance, some research points to improved brain health, cognition, relief from throat issues, and even depression symptoms. Yoga is also said to help men take care of their prostate and conquer erectile dysfunction. It also seems to be a boon for those dealing with diabetes, offering relief from symptoms.
However, most studies are observational, which means they don't prove cause-and-effect. And there are fewer studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of these findings.
Enter this intriguing study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, from the University of Hong Kong in China, which focuses on yoga’s impact on cardiometabolic health.
What was the result? Not only did it help those with metabolic syndrome, but it also unveiled the mystery behind those benefits!
Yoga: A Mighty Inflammation-Fighter
Metabolic syndrome is often linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, around half of the adult population live with this condition.
Dr. Siu and his team previously discovered lower blood pressure and smaller waist circumferences among individuals who practiced yoga for a year. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a year of yoga on people with metabolic syndrome.
Participants were randomly divided into a control group and a yoga group. The control group received no intervention, while the yoga group attended three 1-hour yoga sessions per week for a year. Researchers also monitored their patients' sera for adipokines—signaling proteins released by fat tissue that tell the immune system whether to trigger an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response.
The study’s authors shared 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."
Simple as that, yoga could be a valuable lifestyle intervention that curbs inflammation and assists individuals with metabolic syndrome to manage symptoms.
Dr. Siu adds his thoughts, commenting, "These findings help to reveal the response of adipokines to long-term yoga exercise, which underpins the importance of regular exercise to human health."
And there you have it—solid scientific evidence to back up the praises sung by yogis worldwide!
- The study led by Dr. Parco M. Siu, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, suggests that regular yoga practice might help combat metabolic syndrome.
- The study revealed that a year of yoga training led to a decrease in proinflammatory adipokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory adipokines in adults with metabolic syndrome and high-normal blood pressure.
- Yoga, as a low-impact fitness and exercise practice, could potentially serve as a valuable lifestyle intervention for individuals managing metabolic syndrome by curbing inflammation.
- In addition to its potential benefits for metabolic syndrome, previous studies have indicated that yoga may offer relief from various medical conditions, chronic diseases, and health-and-wellness issues, such as type-2 diabetes, depression, throat issues, and erectile dysfunction.
