Abstract
Background
The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the effects of
yoga on modifiable biological cardiovascular disease risk factors in the general population
and in high-risk disease groups.
Methods
MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and IndMED were screened through August
2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on yoga for predefined cardiovascular
risk factors in healthy participants, non-diabetic participants with high risk for
cardiovascular disease, or participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Risk of bias
was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
Results
Forty-four RCTs with a total of 3168 participants were included. Risk of bias was
high or unclear for most RCTs. Relative to usual care or no intervention, yoga improved
systolic (mean difference (MD) = −5.85 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −8.81, −2.89) and diastolic blood pressure (MD = −4.12 mm Hg; 95%CI = −6.55, −1.69), heart rate (MD = −6.59 bpm; 95%CI = −12.89, −0.28), respiratory rate (MD = −0.93 breaths/min; 95%CI = −1.70, −0.15), waist circumference (MD = −1.95 cm; 95%CI = −3.01, −0.89), waist/hip ratio (MD = −0.02; 95%CI = −0.03, −0.00), total cholesterol (MD = −13.09 mg/dl; 95%CI = −19.60, −6.59), HDL (MD = 2.94 mg/dl; 95%CI = 0.57, 5.31), VLDL (MD = −5.70 mg/dl; 95%CI = −7.36, −4.03), triglycerides (MD = −20.97 mg/dl; 95%CI = −28.61, −13.32), HbA1c (MD = −0.45%; 95%CI = −0.87, −0.02), and insulin resistance (MD = −0.19; 95%CI = −0.30, −0.08). Relative to exercise, yoga improved HDL (MD = 3.70 mg/dl; 95%CI = 1.14, 6.26).
Conclusions
This meta-analysis revealed evidence for clinically important effects of yoga on most
biological cardiovascular disease risk factors. Despite methodological drawbacks of
the included studies, yoga can be considered as an ancillary intervention for the
general population and for patients with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 13, 2014
Accepted:
February 13,
2014
Received in revised form:
January 28,
2014
Received:
September 23,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
