Background: Hypertension is a growing public health problem and its optimal management is imperative. Integration of lifestyle modification and yoga with antihypertensive drugs leads to its successful management. Yoga has been shown to modulate blood pressure (BP) and lipid metabolism in individuals with hypertension. The current study is a preliminary effort to ascertain the underlying mechanisms behind it. Materials and Methods: Hundred patients were screened, among which 65 who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. After baseline assessments, they were randomly allocated (1:1) to an intervention group (IG) who practiced integrated approach to yoga therapy (IAYT)-based yoga module for 6 days a week, for 3 months and a control group (CG) who received no intervention. BP, heart rate variability, and lipid profile were assessed before and after the intervention. Data acquired from 60 cases were analyzed by post-hoc analysis for multiple comparisons between the mean values. Results: At the end of 3 months, within-group comparison showed significant changes ( P < 0.05) in IG in all variables except triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL) while similar changes were not present in the control group. Significant differences were seen between the groups in the TC ( P = 0.005), HDL ( P = 0.047), non-HDL ( P = 0.013), LDL ( P < 0.001), LDL/HDL Ratio ( P = 0.031), CHOL/HDL Ratio ( P = 0.043), DBP ( P < 0.001), SBP ( P < 0.001), and all indices of HRV ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that IAYT-based yoga module was effective in improving cardiovascular performance and lipid metabolism, thereby mitigating coronary artery disease risk.

Background: Preclinical and clinical studies have shown the importance of calorie restriction diet in weight reduction and cardiovascular risk factors. In this study, our objective is to compare the naturopathic-based short-term fasting therapy with low-calorie diet (LCD) on anthropometric and lipid profile among obese and overweight persons. A total number of subjects (n = 100) with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 were randomly allocated into either fasting therapy intervention (n = 48) or a LCD (n = 52). Materials and Methods: Participants underwent very LCD (288–904 kcal) in fasting therapy and a LCD (1234 kcal) in the other group respectively for 10 days. Individuals in both the groups were assessed with anthropometric parameters such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-hip ratio, serum lipid profile, and serum leptin levels at the baseline and after 10 days. Results: The anthropometric measurements were decreased significantly in the fasting group when compared with the LCD group (P < 0.05). The decrease in mean serum total cholesterol (TC) (−27.43%), triglycerides (TGs) (−13.05%), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (−20.9%) in the treated group were statistically significant (P < 0.001), whereas serum high density lipoprotein (2.32%) was increased but insignificantly (P > 0.001) when compared with the nontreated group. Conclusions: Our findings support that short-term fasting therapy is beneficial in anthropometric measures and reducing leptin level among obese or overweight person compared to LCD. However, long-term adherence of weight loss with these interventions should be tested in future studies with bigger sample size.