Effect of exercise therapy on lipid profile and oxidative stress indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Yoga has been shown to be a simple and economical therapeutic modality that may be considered as a beneficial adjuvant for type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the impact of Hatha yoga and conventional physical training (PT) exercise regimens on biochemical, oxidative stress indicators and oxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This prospective randomized study consisted of 77 type 2 diabetic patients in the Hatha yoga exercise group that were matched with a similar number of type 2 diabetic patients in the conventional PT exercise and control groups. Biochemical parameters such as fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined at baseline and at two consecutive three monthly intervals. The oxidative stress indicators (malondialdehyde - MDA, protein oxidation - POX, phospholipase A2 - PLA2 activity) and oxidative status [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities] were measured. RESULTS: The concentrations of FBG in the Hatha yoga and conventional PT exercise groups after six months decreased by 29.48% and 27.43% respectively (P < 0.0001) and there was a significant reduction in serum TC in both groups (P < 0.0001). The concentrations of VLDL in the managed groups after six months differed significantly from baseline values (P = 0.036). Lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA significantly decreased by 19.9% and 18.1% in the Hatha yoga and conventional PT exercise groups respectively (P < 0.0001); whilst the activity of SOD significantly increased by 24.08% and 20.18% respectively (P = 0.031). There was no significant difference in the baseline and 6 months activities of PLA2 and catalase after six months although the latter increased by 13.68% and 13.19% in the Hatha yoga and conventional PT exercise groups respectively (P = 0.144). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrate the efficacy of Hatha yoga exercise on fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes and suggest that Hatha yoga exercise and conventional PT exercise may have therapeutic preventative and protective effects on diabetes mellitus by decreasing oxidative stress and improving antioxidant status. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12608000217303.

Communication and behaviour modification - position statement

Yoga physical exercise forms part of dynamic research method, of a universal philosophy, which can help any individual independent of sex, age, psychological and physical limitations to understand his/her existence and gain self-realisation. If we observe the figure (please see article) we will see that Yoga Discipline corresponds to the recommendation established by the International Diabetes Federation in the metabolic control of this type of patient. Yoga Discipline can help the diabetic to understand and accept his condition, to eliminate stress and fear which is this disorder can produce and, finally, to adapt to a change in lifestyles. Yoga diet is considerd as healthy and contains the dietetic requirements for diabetics; the yoga conduct implies the change to a healthy lifestyle with the limitaton of harmful habits. It has been shown that yoga physical exercises: *Have beneficial effects on almost all glands including the pancreas, *Diminish the frequency of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia in comparison to other types of physical exercises, *Diminish or eliminate stress of whatever origin. In order to start yoga physical exercises, the following is necessary: *The characteristics of the patient, *The establishing of an individual programme of physical exercises for each patient and the systemic evaluation of the programme. THE CHARACTERISATION OF THE PATIENT: The competence of the patient with objective to determine the psychological, physical and biological characteristics of patient and include the age, sex, associated diseases, grade of anxiety etc. PROGRAMME OF YOGA PHYSICAL EXERCISES: The programme consists of various classes each of at least one hour's duration and with its objective. Each patient must understand that: *Each class is an artistic work that reflects the personality of the participant, *The time of the class is variable dependent on the requirements of the body and mind, *Each class is a change but is an opportunity to satisfy the intuition and the thinking.(AU) [truncated at 2500 characters]

Yoga discipline in the control of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

An experimental study was performed at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences "Victoria de Giron" of Havana City, Cuba, between April 1997 and June 1997 to examine the effect of Yoga Discipline in the control of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). Of 64 subjects there were 32 NIDDM on traditional treatment (Yoga Group). The prinicpal results revealed that the body mass index (BMI), at the beginning and the end, in the Traditional Group did not change significantly (BMI-beginning-28.0kg/m2; the end = 28.7 kg/m2 p=0.0831). However, the BMI in the Yoga Group decreased significantly (beginning = 29.7 kg/m2, the end = 27.0kg/m2; p=0.0001). At the end the frequency of normal glycosylated haemoglobin was higher in the Yoga Group (88.4 percent) than in the Traditional group (46.9 percent) showing a significant difference (p =0.0007). Also, for the Traditional Group, at the end the mean triglyceride 0.025 mmol/l (2.23mg/dl) and the mean total cholesterol concentrations 0.126 mmol/l (4.88mg/dl) were not significantly different from the beginning 0.025 mmol/l (2.22mg/dl) and 0.125 mmol (4.83mg/dl) respectively. In the Yoga Group at the end of the mean triglyceride 0.019 mmol/l (1.68 mg/dl) and the total cholesterol concentrations 0.110 mmol/l (4.24 mg/dl) were lower than the beginning 0.026 mmol/l (2.30 mg/dl) and 0.126 mmol/l (4.88 mg/dl), respectively, showing significant differences, p<0.05. Our results indicate that Yoga Discipline combined with the traditional treatment of NIDDM can benefit these patients.(AU)