Effect of Yoga Therapy on Frequency Domain Parameters of Heart Rate Variability in Prediabetics

Abstract

Introduction: Prediabetes is the budding stage of type 2 diabetic mellitus and imposes the elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with significant morbidity and mortality. Non pharmacological strategies such as yoga therapy have marked impact in the mitigation of prediabetes. In this backdrop, the present study was conducted to study the effect of six months yoga intervention on heart rate variability in patients diagnosed with prediabetes. Further, it has been used as tool for the maintenance of autonomic nervous system and to reduce the progression of diabetes. Material and Method: The study was conducted on 250 prediabetic adults aged ranging from 30-50 years attending the OPD of Jaipuria Hospital and from different yoga centers. Then the effect of yoga intervention on frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability such as Low frequency (LF),High frequency (HF), Ratio of LFto HF. The patients were divided into two groups as follows, Group A (n=125) were subjected to intervention with yoga exercises and Group B (n=125) were not advised for any yoga exercises. Data analysis was done by Oneway ANOVA for comparison between the groups and significance was analysed post hoc analysis followed by Tukeys and Schaffes tests. Results : In group A, yoga intervention leads to significant (p <0.001) decrease in LF component with an substantial elevation in HF component and the LF/HFratio shifted towards the parasympathetic dominance as compared to group Bat baseline, 3 and6 months. Conclusion: Thus the study reveals that yoga intervention for six months significantly shifted ANS system towards the parasympathetic dominance in prediabetic patients. Thus, routine yoga session could alleviate the cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals affected with prediabetes.

The Vagal Nerve, Inflammation, and Diabetes—A Holy Triangle

“…Another potential therapeutic use of HRV in the context of diabetes is HRV-based interventions to improve the regulation of glucose blood levels. For example, it was shown that HRV-based interventions, such as yoga or exercises which involve deep breathing, can improve HRV and glucose regulation in T2DM patients [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Integration of such interventions into diabetes treatment plans will enable a potential reduction in the risk for complications accompanying diabetes.…”