Effect Of Sudarshan Kriya On Functional Capacity, Quality Of Life And Stress Levels In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Experimental Study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus describes a metabolic disorder of multiple etiologies characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or insulin action or both. Diabetic management consists of a combination of diet, exercise, and weight loss. Sudarshan Kriya yoga use specific rhythms of the breath to eliminate stress, support the various organs and systems and restore peace of mind but no scientific study has been done to assess the efficacy. Hence the study was done to establish a scientific basis of sudarshan kriya yoga as an adjunct to conventional medical management on functional capacity, Quality of life and stress levels in type 2 diabetic subjects. Materials and Methods: 60 subjects were enrolled and according to their latest glycemic index (HbA1c), stratified into 2 groups (30 in each group) – with fair to good control (<8) and with poor control (>8). Block randomization method using a block of four was used for random allocation of subjects to experimental (sudarshankriya yoga) and control groups (breathing exercises). Baseline assessment of Functional Capacity, Quality of life and stress levels was done using 6 Minute Walk Test, SF-36 and Hamilton depression rating Scale respectively. The pre post measurements of outcome measures were analysed. Results: Following 4 weeks of Sudarshan kriya Yoga and Breathing exercises, there was a statistically significant increase in 6 MWD, SF 36 scores in all domains and reduction in % Heart Rate rise and Hamilton Depression Rating scores and no statistically significant reduction in Basal Heart Rate. However the increase was statistically more significant in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Sudarshan Kriya yoga has an effect on functional capacity, quality of life and stress levels in subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. As Sudarshan Kriya Yoga shows improvement not only in the autonomic function but also shows a reduction in stress levels, it should be incorporated as an adjunct in the management of these subjects. KEY WORDS: Diabetes Mellitus, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, SF 36.

Sudarshan Kriya yoga improves quality of life in healthy people living with HIV (PLHIV): results from an open label randomized clinical trial.

background & objectives: Improving quality of life (QOL) of healthy people living with HIV (PLHIV) is critical needing home-based, long-term strategy. Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) intervention is acknowledged for its positive impact on health. It is hypothesised that SKY would improve PLHIV’s QOL, justifying an evaluation. Methods: In this open label randomized controlled pilot trial, 61 adult PLHIV with CD4 count more than 400 cells/μl and Karnofsky scale score above 70 were enrolled. Those with cardiac disease, jaundice, tuberculosis, or on antiretroviral therapy/yoga intervention were excluded. All were given standard care, randomized to SKY intervention (31: I-SKY) and only standard of care in control (30: O-SOC) arms. The I-SKY participants were trained for six days to prepare for daily practice of SKY at home for 30 min. A validated 31-item WHOQOL-HIVBREF questionnaire was used to document effect in both arms from baseline to three visits at 4 wk interval. Results: Baseline QOL scores, hypertension and CD4 count were similar in both arms. An overall 6 per cent improvement of QOL scores was observed in I-SKY group as compared to O-SOC group, after controlling for baseline variables like age, gender, education and occupation (p=0.016); 12 per cent for physical (p=0.004), 11 per cent psychological (p=0.023) and 9 per cent level of independence (p=0.001) domains. Improvement in I-SKY observed at post-training and in the SKY adherence group showed increase in these two domains. Conclusions: A significant improvement in QOL scores was observed for the three health related QOL domains in SKY intervention arm. This low cost strategy improved physical and psychological state of PLHIV calling for upscaling with effective monitoring for sustainability of quality of life.

The effects of sudarshan kriya yoga on some physiological and biochemical parameters in mild hypertensive patients.

An open label intervention study was undertaken on 26 mild hypertensives and 26 apparently healthy adults (30–60 y), for the effect of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga practice for two months as complementary therapy. In the hypertensives, there was a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (P<0.01), serum urea (P<0.01) and plasma MDA (malondialdehyde adducts) as oxidative stress marker (P<0.05). Other parameters; viz.; plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, did not change significantly (P>0.1). The pattern of change in most of the study parameters was such that values above normal range were lowered but values within normal range were unaltered. The action of Yoga on diastolic blood pressure, malondialdehyde adducts and kidney function in hypertensives was of counteractive nature and felt to be distinctly different than the effect of drugs.