OBJECTIVE: The present study intends to see the effect of yoga practices on lipid profile, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) among apparently healthy adults exposed to occupational hazards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 48 participants aged 30-58 years (41.5 ± 5.2) who were exposed to occupational hazards were randomized into two groups, that is, experimental and wait-list control. All the participants were assessed for lipid profile, IL-6, TNF-α, and hs-CRP at the baseline and after completion of 3 months of yoga training intervention. The experimental group underwent yoga training intervention for 1 h for 6 days a week for 3 months, whereas control group continued with their daily activities except yoga training. Data analysis was done using statistical software SPSS Version 20.0. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-test. RESULTS: The results of within group comparison revealed highly significant changes in cholesterol (P < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein (P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)(P < 0.01), hs-CRP (P < 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.001), and TNF-α (P < 0.001) in experimental group. Comparison between experimental and control group revealed significant changes in cholesterol (P < 0.01), LDL (P < 0.05), IL-6 (P < 0.01), TNF-α (P < 0.01), and hs-CRP (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A yoga-based lifestyle intervention seems to be a highly promising alternative therapy which favorably alters inflammatory markers and metabolic risk factors.
[Purpose] This study was conducted with a view to find out the effect of yoga practices on micronutrient absorption in urban residential school children. [Subjects and Methods] The study population comprised 66 urban school children aged 11-15 years staying in a residential school in Pune City, Maharashtra, India. A stratified random sampling method was used to divide the students into experimental and control groups. There were 33 students in experimental group and 33 students in control group. Both experimental and control groups were assessed for the status of zinc, copper, iron and magnesium at the baseline and at the end of 12 weeks of yoga training. The study participants of experimental group underwent yoga training for 12 weeks, for one hour in the morning for six days a week. The control group did not undergo any yoga training during this time period. [Results] The experimental group participants showed significant improvement in micronutrient absorption as compared to control group. [Conclusion] The findings of this study indicate that yoga practices could improve micronutrient absorption in urban residential school children.
INTRODUCTION: The progressive increase in dyslipidemia and physical inactivity are considered to be major risk factors for the onset of non communicable diseases. Awareness of body constitution plays a vital role to regularise optimum health. The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of yoga practices on lipid metabolism with reference to specific body constitution (Prakriti). METHODS: A self-as-control study was conducted on 36 male healthy volunteers between age group of 30-58 years. Their prakriti analysis was done using standardized, validated questionnaire and were divided into Vata-Pitta (n = 16) and Pitta-Kapha (n = 20) groups. The assessment of lipid profile was done in fasting blood samples before and after 12 weeks of yoga training. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test. RESULTS: After yoga intervention, the result of within group comparison revealed that in Vata-Pitta (V-P) group, significant decrease in the levels of TC, LDL (p < 0.001) and significant increase in HDL (p < 0.01) was observed. While, Pitta-Kapha (P-K) group showed significant decrease in TC (p < 0.001), TG (p < 0.01), LDL (p < 0.001) and VLDL (p < 0.05) levels. Further, the results between groups revealed that P-K group has significantly higher baseline levels of TC, TG and VLDL as compared to V-P group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study concludes that yoga practices can effectively regulate lipid metabolism and total body energy expenditure with reference to specific constitutional type (Prakriti) that may act as a tool to assess magnitude of metabolic functions.
