Effect of aerobic exercise, slow deep breathing and mindfulness meditation on cortisol and glucose levels in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Aerobic exercise combined with breathing exercise can be an integral part of diabetes mellitus treatment. This single-center, randomized, parallel-group study investigated the effect of the combination of aerobic exercise with slow deep breathing and mindfulness meditation on the glucose and cortisol levels of women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight middle-aged women with T2DM (mean age: 45.67 ± 2.92 years) were randomly assigned to either the aerobic training group (AT: n = 29; mean age [46.1 ± 2.7 years]) or the aerobic exercise combined with slow deep breathing and mindfulness meditation (AT + DMM: n = 29; mean age [45.24 ± 3.14 years]). Aerobic exercise was performed at 60%-75% of the maximum heart rate. The women in each group were asked to perform the training three times weekly over a 6-week period. The duration of each session was 40 min for the AT group and 60 min for the AT + DMM group. The two groups were asked to perform aerobic exercise at 60%-75% of the maximum heart rate. Their fasting blood glucose (FBG) and serum cortisol levels were measured at the baseline and after the 6 weeks. Results: Compared with the AT group, the group undertaking 6 weeks of aerobic training combined with slow, deep breathing exercises and mindfulness meditation showed significantly lower levels of FBG (p = 0.001) and cortisol levels (p = 0.01) than the AT group. Conclusion: The addition of slow deep breathing and mindfulness meditation to aerobic exercise can better control the glucose and cortisol levels of women with T2DM and thereby improve their outcomes and decrease their cardiometabolic risk.

Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation in Addition to Aerobic Exercise Training in Obese Women with Perceived Myalgia: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Obese women were more susceptible to myalgia because of their significantly lower vitamin D concentrations; the present study investigated the efficacy of vitamin D in addition to an aerobic interval training in the management of obese women with myalgia. Forty-five obese women with vitamin D deficiency and myalgia (30 to 40 years old) were assigned randomly into three equal groups. Group A received an aerobic interval training with vitamin D supplementation, Group B received vitamin D supplementation only, and Group C received aerobic interval training only; participants in all groups were on calorie deficient diets. The study outcomes were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Evaluation, serum vitamin D level, and Cooper 12-Minute Walk Test for Functional Capacity Evaluation, while the Short-Form Health Survey (SF) was used for assessment of quality of life. We detected a significant improvement in pain intensity level, serum vitamin D level, and quality of life in all groups with significant difference between Group A and groups B and C. We also detected a significant improvement in functional capacity in groups A and C, with no significant change in Group B. Aerobic interval training with vitamin D supplementation was more effective for the management of obese women with perceived myalgia.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program impact on prognostic markers in selected patients with resting and exercise-induced ventilatory inefficiency: a clinical trial.

[Purpose] Ventilatory limitation is a common problem in patients with chronic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Excess ventilation may arise from augmented ventilatory drive, over activity of chemoreceptors and muscle ergoreceptors, or premature onset of lactic acidosis. Exertional dyspnea can cause limitations in the activities of daily living and as a result, reduced quality of life for these patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on ventilatory efficiency for these patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty five patients with chronic heart failure and twenty five patients with pulmonary hypertension and only forty of them completed the study. The training program consisted of interval aerobic training program, based on the results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Training period was about five months. Outcomes were ventilatory equivalent for CO2, (VE/VCO2 at anaerobic threshold), VO2 at anaerobic threshold, VO2 max and peak work load. Echocardiography parameters were also measured; right ventricular systolic pressure for patients with pulmonary hypertension and ejection fraction for patients with chronic heart failure. [Results] Both groups showed an improvement in ventilation during exercise in favor of patients with pulmonary hypertension. VE/VCO2 decreased by 6.65 in pulmonary hypertension and by 2.9 in chronic heart failure. Right ventricular systolic pressure decreased by 12.05 mmHg in pulmonary hypertension and ejection fraction increased by 17.74% in chronic heart failure. [Conclusion] Physical therapy cardiopulmonary rehabilitation should be considered in managing patients with ventilatory limitation such as pulmonary hypertension and chronic heart failure.