Risk Indices Associated with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease, and Possible Protection with Yoga: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of published literature regarding the effects of yoga, a promising mind-body therapy, on specific anthropometric and physiologic indices of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and on related clinical endpoints.Methods: We performed a literature search using 4 computerized English and Indian scientific databases. The search was restricted to original studies (1970 to 2004) evaluating the effects of yoga on CVD or indices of CVD risk associated with the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized controlled trials, uncontrolled (pre and post) clinical trials, and cross-sectional (observational) studies were included if they met specific criteria. Data were extracted regarding study design, setting, population size and characteristics, intervention type and duration, comparison group or condition, outcome assessment, data analysis and presentation, follow-up, and key results, and the quality of each study was evaluated according to specific predetermined criteria.Results : ing number of developing countries. [5][6][7] Leading to premature morbidity and mortality, and to preventable losses of employment, earnings, and quality of life, CVD is clearly of pressing clinical and economic significance, underscoring the need for effective primary prevention efforts that target common, modifiable risk factors. Prominent among these are the physiologic and anthropometric risk factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), and the neuroendocrine and psychosocial alterations that may both predispose to and result from these IRS-related abnormalities. The IRS, also referred to as syndrome X or the metabolic syndrome, is a cluster of metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities that both collectively and independently predict the development of atherosclerosis and CVD. 4,8 -11 Core features of the IRS are insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and

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Mind–body interventions for vasomotor symptoms in healthy menopausal women and breast cancer survivors. A systematic review

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Yoga and Health

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