ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Several diabetes prevention programmes have demonstrated a reduction in incidence of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes through weight loss. Short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention programmes have also been shown to be efficacious in weight loss. This study was undertaken to investigate if interleukin (IL)-6, vitamin D, neopterin, vaspin, and diabetes risk factors can be modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese subjects. Methods: In this pilot study, 34 overweight/obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥23 to <35 kg/m2 per Asian cut-off values] individuals were enrolled, and received directly supervised intervention for 10 days. Thereafter, they were advised to follow this yoga-based lifestyle at home for one month, and were reassessed for study variables at day 30. Results: There was a reduction from baseline to day 10 in weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), waist/hip-ratio (p<0.05), blood glucose (p<0.01), and a significant improvement in lipid profile. There was a decrease in median fasting insulin (p<0.05), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (p<0.01), and IL-6 (p<0.05). A non-significant increase in 25-OH-vitamin D, and a decrease in neopterin and vaspin were observed. Twenty subjects returned for follow up assessments. At day 30, weight loss was sustained while systolic blood pressure also showed reduction (p<0.05). Changes in vitamin D levels were significantly and negatively correlated with changes in weight, BMI and fasting blood glucose, and positively with change in high density lipoprotein. Changes in body weight and BMI significantly and positively correlated with insulin. Changes in IL-6 levels positively and significantly correlated with change in neopterin levels. Interpretation & conclusions: the findings showed that IL-6, vitamin D, and diabetes risk factors were favourably modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in obesity. This study also highlighted the challenges in compliance associated with the follow up of subjects following an aggressive supervised intervention of 10 days.
ABSTRACT
Age and gender are two important physiological variables which might influence the personality of an individual. The influence of age and gender on big five personality domains in Indian population was assessed in this cross-sectional study that included 155 subjects (female=76, male=79) aged from 16-75 years. Big five personality factors were evaluated using 60-item NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) at a single point in time. Among the big five factors of personality, Conscientiousness was positively correlated (r=0.195; P<0.05) with age in total study population, and retained the significance (P<0.05)in men only when analyzed by gender subgroups. Further, age and gender sub-group analysis also showed that Neuroticism was inversely correlated with age in women aged 26-35 years (P<0.05). Neuroticism and Extraversion showed a positive correlation with age in men aged 36-45 years (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Neuroticism was inversely correlated with age in men aged 46-55 years (P<0.05). This preliminary report suggested that personality traits might change with age, and is gender-dependent.