Research article

Biochemical Effects of Yoga

Gökhan Doğukan Akarsu¹* and Rukiye Höbek Akarsu²

¹Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Turkey

²Department of Nursing, Yozgat Bozok University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkey

Submission: July 11, 2023; Published: October 05, 2023

*Corresponding author: Yozgat Bozok University, Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Email: gokhan_dogukan_akarsu@hotmail.com

How to cite this article: Gökhan Doğukan A, Rukiye Höbek A. Biochemical Effects of Yoga. J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2023; 12(3): 555836. DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2023.12.555836

Abstract

Aim: It is aimed to examine the experimental studies carried out in 2022 to explore the bıochemıcal effects of yoga.

Methods: Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Springer Link, Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations, Ovid, CINAHL, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Proquest databases were made by searching English articles published between January 2022 and January 2023. “Yoga, Biochemistry, Biological Effect of Yoga, Yoga With Change Of Biology” etc. words and combinations are used. The summaries of 251 studies that formed the universe published between January 1, 2022 and January 15, 2023 were systematically examined, and then 18 studies that were suitable for the purpose of the study and that caused biochemical changes in yoga formed the sample of the research.

Results: In the studies reviewed, it has been reported that yoga reduces blood CRP, LDL, triglyceride, cholesterol, fasting and postprandial blood sugar, IL-6, HBA1c, D-Dimer, oxidative stress markers, HOMA-IR and leukocyte counts. It has also been reported to increase HDL levels.

Conclusion: It can be stated that yoga improves biochemical parameters as well as spiritual well-being, and makes significant contributions to health with its cost-free and space-free practice.

Keywords: Yoga; Yoga effect; Complementary Medicine; Health

Introduction

Yoga is a form of therapy in Indian culture that helps to heal the soul and body through meditation. There are many studies examining the effects of yoga on health. The first article on yoga published in 1978 was written by Tandon. With the new information added to the literature as a result of research conducted today, the limits of the benefits of yoga to human health have not been determined yet. As research continues, new information emerges [1]. Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that originated in India around 5000 BC. In the classical Indian language Sanskrit, the word “yoga” means “to subjugate” or “to unite”, so the aim of yoga is the unification of mind, body, and spirit [2].The holistic approach of yoga involves promoting mental and physical health through lifestyle guidelines [3].

Before yoga spread globally as a physical exercise system, it was conceived for the purpose of healing in improving health. It was believed that the beginning of healing started with improving the mental state of the person doing yoga [4]. Information obtained from current studies accepts the relationship of stress with the immune system and other diseases [5]. Acute and chronic stress, mainly through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system, increases the risk of developing diseases due to immune weakness [6].

Some physiological effects of yoga are

• Induces stress-induced autonomic nervous system balance

• Lowers heart rate and blood pressure

• Respiratory rate decreases and respiratory efficiency increases

• Increase in parameters such as tidal volume, vital capacity and breath-hold time.

• α waves increase in EEG. At various stages of meditation, β, δ, θ waves also increase

• Cardiovascular capacity is strengthened

• Improvement is observed in gastrointestinal function and endocrine functions. Weight balance improves.

• The excretory system functions are improved

• Musculoskeletal flexibility and capacity increase

• Posture improves

• Sleep improves

• The immune system is strengthened [7]

The aim of this article is to summarize clinical studies to understand the biochemical effects of yoga.

Materials and Methods

Type of Research

This study is a systematic review prepared according to the PRISMA checklist and Cochrane guideline (Higgins et al. (2019); Moher et al. (2009)).

Research Strategy

It is stated that yoga therapy improves one’s soul and body. It will lead to changes in some biochemical parameters of physical and mental well-being. The aim of the study is to determine whether yoga causes changes in biochemical parameters, if so, what these changes are and what effects they cause. Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Springer Link, Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations, Ovid, CINAHL, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Proquest databases were made by scanning English articles published between January 2022 since January 2023. “Yoga, Biochemistry, Biological Effect of Yoga, Yoga With Change Of Biology” etc. words and combinations are used. The summaries of 251 studies, which were published between 1 Jan 2022 and 15 Jan 2023, were systematically examined, and then 18 studies that were suitable for the purpose of the study and that caused biochemical changes in yoga formed the sample of the research (Table 1). Although all searches were done by a single reviewer, full-text review and data abstraction were done in duplicate. While scanning the articles, clinical studies on the effect of yoga on biochemical parameters were included. The effects of other therapy models on biochemical parameters are not included.

Inclusion criteria

• Full text accessible

• In the field of Yoga

• About biochemistry effect of Yoga therapy

• Studies published in the Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Springer Link, Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations, Ovid, CINAHL, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Proquest database center between January 2022 since January 2023 were included.

1.1. In this study, PICOS

• (P: Population): People who do and do not do yoga

• (I: Intervention): People who practice yoga

• (C: Comparison): People who do not practice yoga

• (O: Outcomes): The results of doing yoga in biochemical parameters.

• (S: Study design): Experimental yoga studies were included.

Limitation of the Study

Reviews that were not included in the Science Direct, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Springer Link, Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations, Ovid, CINAHL, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Proquest database and were not registered in the system could not be reached. The limitations of the study are research on the effects of yoga therapy on biochemical parameters, accessing the same compilations with different keywords, and the low number of accessed articles. Other meditation studies are not included.

Ethical Aspect of Research

Ethical permission was not obtained because reviews were open to access were used in this systematic review. Reviews were selected by the researchers considering the PRISMA checklist.

Analysis of data

The data were evaluated using the data summary form prepared by the researchers. The data summary form includes the author, consultant, purpose of the study, duration of yoga therapy, sample size, research type/method, data collection tools, and results of the studies. Data summary forms were evaluated independently by the researchers and filled with consensus.

Results

Yoga, Biochemistry, Biological Effect of Yoga, Yoga With Change Of Biology etc. all.

Discussion

There are many sources in the literature on the effects of yoga meditation on both spiritual and blood biochemical markers. The aim of this study is to collect the most recent researches conducted in 2022 and later, experimentally, pre-test and post-test measurements on yoga. Yoga can be considered as a form of applied treatment that has come from the past to the present and aims to heal with meditation and the serenity of the soul. As a result of the development of the scientific world, the dissemination of new upto- date information and the directing of researches with existing resources, we have reached the knowledge of situations that can cause diseases today. All researchers and medical doctors know this, that the biggest disease-causing factor is stress. In today’s lifestyles, it has become almost impossible to sit and rest, listen to our own inner voice while resting, and stop and take a short break. However, giving ourselves a “Time Break” is necessary and necessary for health.

Today, with many situations such as sitting down, controlling robotic or automatic systems, and changing lifestyles, we quickly adapt to the sedentary order. As a result, increased high-fat diets, high-sugar foods, continuous and unlimited energy taken without consuming led to the observation of tremendous changes in blood parameters. The most obvious examples of this are increased fasting and postprandial blood values, increased blood LDL, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, decreased HDL levels, and increased waist circumference. These cause cardiovascular diseases, heart diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hepatic steatosis and cancer [8-15]. Eating disorders are one of the most common disorders today. It can be stated that the biggest reason for this is the lack of mental well-being. Mental well-being is an important infrastructure for the prevention of eating disorders. Since yoga is known to contribute to mental well-being, it can both treat eating disorders and prevent weight gain and other related diseases.

Long-term high blood cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels can lead to plaque formation in the vessels, resulting plaque rupture and vascular damage. It has been stated that yoga leads to a decrease in blood lipid levels in studies 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in the table. It has been observed that this situation has improved as a result of training given from 8 weeks to 6 months, those who did not have yoga before in their lives, had high blood lipid levels. The same is true for blood sugar. In the studies 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 in the table, it has been reported that it lowers blood sugar, especially fasting blood sugar. In addition, excessive blood sugar due to increased insulin after meals can also damage vessels and tissues. The absence of a sudden rise in postprandial blood sugar indicates that insulin is produced adequately and in its molecular form without damage. This result actually explains the pancreatic condition and reveals its curative and regulatory effect.

In the light of the information in the table, in the study no. 4, hormones affect the regulation of the levels, in the publication no. 13 it decreased the level of C-reactive protein, in the study no. 17 it reduced IL-6, which is an indicator of inflammation, and in the study no. 18 it was found that the largest cognitive, cardiovascular diseases and oncogenic diseases. It has been shown to be effective in reducing oxidative stress, which we know to cause diseases.

Conclusion

With the information obtained from the studies shown above, we can mention that mental well-being actually plays a key role in the prevention of many diseases. Because we know that oxidative stress causes neurocognitive disorders [16-19]. It would be little information to limit mental well-being biochemically to only oxidative stress. Increased cortisol synthesis, stress-related scars and hair loss are just a few of them.

Our aim in this study has shown that yoga, which is used to provide spiritual well-being, serves this purpose and improves biochemical parameters. Maybe other meditation practices may show the same effects. The main issue explained here is that stopping and resting in the intensity of life and taking time for oneself will be beneficial in correcting the deteriorated homeostasis. Yoga is a method whose principles have been determined here, has been practiced for thousands of years and there is no evidence that it is harmful.

Limitations of the Study

The study is limited to the information obtained as a result of the search with keywords. Studies conducted in languages other than English and whose full text could not be reached were not included. The research was examined on biochemical parameters, not specific to the disease.

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