Effect of Yoga on Lipid Profile and C-reactive Protein in Women.

Author: Azami M1, Hafezi Ahmadi MR2, YektaKooshali MH3, Qavam S4
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. <sup>2</sup>Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. <sup>3</sup>Student Research Committee, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. <sup>4</sup>Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Conference/Journal: Int J Prev Med.
Date published: 2019 May 17
Other: Volume ID: 10 , Pages: 81 , Special Notes: doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_487_17. eCollection 2019. , Word Count: 264


Background: Few scientific studies have been conducted about the effect of yoga on biochemical variables such as total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and C-reactive protein (CRP) to lay a scientific foundation regarding benefits of yoga, but its effect is not clearly detected yet. This study was conducted to assess the effect of yoga on lipid profile and CRP in women.

Methods: This research was designed as an interventional study. After reviewing inclusion and exclusion criteria, selected biochemical variables such as TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, and CRP were measured for each participant. Yoga instruction was done three times a week for 26 weeks by an experienced yoga instructor. After 26 weeks of yoga intervention, the above-mentioned dependent variables were assessed. SPSS Ver. 16 was used for data analysis.

Results: After a 26-week follow-up for participants, only 24 women had the necessary criteria to be included in the study. The mean TG was 157.33 ± 68.416 mg/dL and 134.33 ± 58.80 mg/dL before and after the intervention (P = 0.108), respectively. The mean TC was 234.83 ± 48.47 mg/dL and 183.33 ± 55.09 mg/dL before and after the intervention (P = 0.014), respectively. The mean HDL-C was 31.58 ± 14.22 mg/dL and 38.25 ± 13.5 mg/dL before and after the intervention (P = 0.118), respectively. The mean LDL-C was 171.75 ± 42.69 mg/dL and 142.91 ± 36.4 mg/dL before and after the intervention (P = 0.030), respectively. The mean CRP was 0.57 ± 0.22 mg/L and 0.71 ± 0.77 mg/L before and after the intervention (P = 0.779), respectively.

Conclusions: The result showed that yoga reduced TC and LDL-C significantly, but had no significant effect on TG, HDL-C, and CRP.

KEYWORDS: C-reactive protein; Cholesterol; triglycerides; yoga

PMID: 31198516 PMCID: PMC6547799 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_487_17