Yoga lifestyle intervention reduces blood pressure in HIV-infected adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Effect of a 16-week Bikram yoga program on heart rate variability and associated cardiovascular disease risk factors in stressed and sedentary adults: A randomized controlled trial Combined influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index on cardiovascular disease risk factors among 8-18 year old youth: The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a high-risk condition for cardiovascular disease irrespective of the different degrees of obesity. Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Childhood and Adolescence Affects Future Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies Prospective study of new participants in a community-based mind-body training program Evaluation of Yoga for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use Risk Factors in a Middle School Setting: A Preliminary Group-Randomized Controlled Trial Elevated circulating levels of succinate in human obesity are linked to specific gut microbiota Five-week yin yoga-based interventions decreased plasma adrenomedullin and increased psychological health in stressed adults: A randomized controlled trial Effect of an office worksite-based yoga program on heart rate variability: A randomized controlled trial Ayurveda and Yoga in Cardiovascular Diseases. Madurai Area Physicians Cardiovascular Health Evaluation Survey (MAPCHES)--an alarming status. Adiponectin, interleukin-6, and cardiovascular disease risk factors are modified by a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention in overweight and obese men. Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in PCOS women of postmenopausal age: a 21-year controlled follow-up study. Testosterone and visceral fat in midlife women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) fat patterning study. Physical activity and cardiovascular mortality risk: possible protective mechanisms? An Economic Evaluation of Four Work Site Based Cardiovascular Risk Factor Interventions Yoga Nidra relaxation increases heart rate variability and is unaffected by a prior bout of Hatha yoga. Rapid Gene Expression Changes in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes upon Practice of a Comprehensive Yoga Program Yoga reduces inflammatory signaling in fatigued breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial Impact of oral 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol) replacement therapy on coronary artery risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients. A randomized trial of yoga for adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome. Isoflavones and clinical cardiovascular risk factors in obese postmenopausal women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE People living with HIV infection are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Safe and effective interventions for lowering CVD risk in HIV infection are high priorities . We conducted a prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled study to evaluate whether a yoga lifestyle intervention improves CVD risk factors , virological or immunological status , or quality of life ( QOL ) in HIV-infected adults relative to st and ard of care treatment in a matched control group . METHODS Sixty HIV-infected adults with mild-moderate CVD risk were assigned to 20 weeks of supervised yoga practice or st and ard of care treatment . Baseline and week 20 measures were : 2-h oral glucose tolerance test with insulin monitoring , body composition , fasting serum lipid/lipoprotein profile , resting blood pressures , CD4 T-cell count and plasma HIV RNA , and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF)-36 health-related QOL inventory . RESULTS Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures improved more ( P=0.04 ) in the yoga group ( -5 + /- 2 and -3 + /- 1 mmHg , respectively ) than in the st and ard of care group ( + 1 + /- 2 and + 2 + /- 2 mmHg , respectively ) . However , there was no greater reduction in body weight , fat mass or proatherogenic lipids , or improvements in glucose tolerance or overall QOL after yoga . Immune and virological status was not adversely affected . CONCLUSION Among traditional lifestyle modifications , yoga is a low-cost , simple to administer , nonpharmacological , popular behavioural intervention that can lower blood pressure in pre-hypertensive HIV-infected adults with mild-moderate CVD risk factors Background Chronic activation of the stress-response can contribute to cardiovascular disease risk , particularly in sedentary individuals . This study investigated the effect of a Bikram yoga intervention on the high frequency power component of heart rate variability ( HRV ) and associated cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors ( i.e. additional domains of HRV , hemodynamic , hematologic , anthropometric and body composition outcome measures ) in stressed and sedentary adults . Methods Eligible adults were r and omized to an experimental group ( n = 29 ) or a no treatment control group ( n = 34 ) . Experimental group participants were instructed to attend three to five supervised Bikram yoga classes per week for 16 weeks at local studios . Outcome measures were assessed at baseline ( week 0 ) and completion ( week 17 ) . Results Sixty-three adults ( 37.2 ± 10.8 years , 79 % women ) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis . The experimental group attended 27 ± 18 classes . Analyses of covariance revealed no significant change in the high-frequency component of HRV ( p = 0.912 , partial η2 = 0.000 ) or in any secondary outcome measure between groups over time . However , regression analyses revealed that higher attendance in the experimental group was associated with significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure ( p = 0.039 ; partial η2 = 0.154 ) , body fat percentage ( p = 0.001 , partial η2 = 0.379 ) , fat mass ( p = 0.003 , partial η2 = 0.294 ) and body mass index ( p = 0.05 , partial η2 = 0.139 ) . Conclusions A 16-week Bikram yoga program did not increase the high frequency power component of HRV or any other CVD risk factors investigated . As revealed by post hoc analyses , low adherence likely contributed to the null effects . Future studies are required to address barriers to adherence to better eluci date the dose-response effects of Bikram yoga practice as a medium to lower stress-related CVD risk . Trial registration Retrospectively registered with Australia New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000867493 . Registered 04 July 2016 OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine differences in cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors across four cross-tabulated groups of cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index in 8- to 18-year-old children and adolescents . METHODS The sample included 296 boys and 188 girls ( mean age=15.7 years ) participating in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study . Participants were cross tabulated into four groups using a median split of age-adjusted treadmill time to exhaustion ( TM ) and body mass index ( BMI ) . Group differences in CVD risk factors ( blood pressure [ BP ] , fasting total cholesterol [ TC ] , low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [ LDL-C ] , high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [ HDL-C ] , TC : HDL-C , triglycerides [ TG ] , glucose , and a metabolic syndrome score ) were examined by ANCOVA , controlling for age . RESULTS In males , significant differences across groups were observed for systolic BP , mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) , TC , LDL-C , TC : HDL-C and the metabolic syndrome score ( p<0.05 ) . In females , only TG was significantly different across groups ( p<0.05 ) . A trend for significance was also observed for DBP and TG in males ( p=0.09 to 0.11 ) and diastolic BP , MAP , HDL-C , and the metabolic syndrome score in females ( p=0.14 to 0.16 ) . In general , males and females in the low BMI group , either fit or unfit , had lower BP and blood lipid values than those in the high BMI group . In both sexes , the high BMI /low fit group had the highest ( most adverse ) metabolic syndrome score . CONCLUSION This study utilized a unique approach to examine the possible interaction of fitness and fatness on CVD risk factors in children and adolescents . The results provide some evidence for the consideration of both variables when interpreting CVD risk factors in young people BACKGROUND Measurement of body weight with body mass index ( BMI ) is often utilized to stratify cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk . AIM To determine CVD risk profile and disease burden in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM ) across different categories of body weight as defined by BMI . DESIGN Prospect i ve observational study . METHODS CVD risk including metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) and prevalence of macrovascular complications were determined for each category of body weight as defined by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) classification . RESULTS A total of 390 subjects were included in this study of which 35.9 % were non-obese ( BMI < 30 kg/m(2 ) ) . Although increasing obesity as defined by BMI was associated with higher prevalence of central abdominal obesity , hypertension and MetS ( P < 0.05 ) , dyslipidaemia and macrovascular complications were not significantly different across the various body weight categories ( P = NS ) . Similar observation was seen in non-obese ( BMI < 30 kg/m(2 ) ) and obese subjects ( BMI > 30 kg/m(2 ) ) . Among non-obese ( including normal weight ) cohort , the majority of these subjects had adverse CVD risk profile including presence of at least two co-existing risk factors . CONCLUSION Subjects with T2DM possess adverse CVD risk factors with significant burden of macrovascular disease irrespective of their baseline body weight Background Although cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) in childhood and adolescence may be linked to future cardiovascular health , there is currently limited evidence for a longitudinal association . Objectives To provide a systematic review on the prospect i ve association between CRF in childhood and adolescence and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors at least 2 years later . Methods Using a systematic search of Medline , Embase , and SPORTD iscus , relevant articles were identified by the following criteria : generally healthy children and adolescents between 3 and 18 years of age with CRF assessed at baseline , and a follow-up period of ≥ 2 years . The outcome measures were CVD risk factors . We appraised quality of the included articles with STROBE and QUIPS checklists . Results After screening 7524 titles and abstract s , we included 38 articles , assessing 44,169 children and adolescents followed up for a median of 6 years . Eleven articles were of high quality . There was considerable heterogeneity in methodology , measurement of CRF , and outcomes , which hampered meta- analysis . In approximately half of the included articles higher CRF in childhood and adolescence was associated with lower body mass index ( BMI ) , waist circumference , body fatness and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in later life . No associations between CRF in childhood and adolescence and future waist-to-hip ratio , blood pressure , lipid profile , and glucose homeostasis were observed . Conclusion Although about half of the included articles reported inverse associations between CRF in childhood and adolescence and future BMI , body fatness , and metabolic syndrome , evidence for other CVD risk factors was unconvincing . Many articles did not account for important confounding factors such as adiposity . Recommendations for future research include st and ardizing the measurement of CRF , i.e. by reporting VO2max , using st and ardized outcome assessment s , and performing individual patient data meta-analyses Abstract BACKGROUND : Mind-body practice s such as yoga are widely popular , but little is known about how such exercises impact health-related quality of life . OBJECTIVE : To measure changes in health-related quality of life associated with 3 months of mind-body training as practice d in community-based setting s. DESIGN : Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING : Eight centers for practice of mind-body training . PARTICIPANTS : One hundred ninety-four English-speaking adults who had taken no more than 10 classes at the centers prior to enrollment in the study . One hundred seventy-one ( 88 % ) returned the 3-month follow-up question naire . INTERVENTION : Administration of the SF-36 question naire at the start of training and after 3 months . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS : At baseline , new participants in  mind-body training reported lower scores than U.S. norms for 7 of 8 domains of the SF-36 : mental health , role emotional , social , vitality , general health , body pain , and role physical ( P<.002 for all comparisons ) . After 3 months of training , within-patient change scores improved in all domains ( P<.0001 ) , including a change of + 15.5 ( st and ard deviation ±21 ) in the mental health domain . In hierarchical regression analysis , younger age ( P=.0003 ) , baseline level of depressive symptoms ( P=.01 ) , and reporting a history of hypertension ( P=.0054 ) were independent predictors of greater improvement in the SF-36 mental health score . Five participants ( 2.9 % ) reported a musculoskeletal injury . CONCLUSIONS : New participants in a community-based mind-body training program reported poor health-related quality of life at baseline and moderate improvements after 3 months of practice . R and omized trials are needed to determine whether benefits may be generalizable to physician-referred population Adolescence is a key developmental period for preventing substance use initiation , however prevention programs solely providing educational information about the dangers of substance use rarely change adolescent substance use behaviors . Recent research suggests that mind – body practice s such as yoga may have beneficial effects on several substance use risk factors , and that these practice s may serve as promising interventions for preventing adolescent substance use . The primary aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of yoga for reducing substance use risk factors during early adolescence . Seventh- grade students in a public school were r and omly assigned by classroom to receive either a 32-session yoga intervention  ( n = 117 ) in place of their regular physical education classes or to continue with physical-education-as-usual ( n = 94 ) . Participants ( 63.2 % female ; 53.6 % White ) completed pre- and post-intervention question naires assessing emotional self-regulation , perceived stress , mood impairment , impulsivity , substance use willingness , and actual substance use . Participants also completed question naires at 6-months and 1-year post-intervention . Results revealed that participants in the control condition were significantly more willing to try smoking cigarettes immediately post-intervention than participants in the yoga condition . Immediate pre- to post-intervention differences did not emerge for the remaining outcomes . However , long-term follow-up analyses revealed a pattern of delayed effects in which females in the yoga condition , and males in the control condition , demonstrated improvements in emotional self-control . The findings suggest that school-based yoga may have beneficial effects with regard to preventing males ’ and females ’ willingness to smoke cigarettes , as well as improving emotional self-control in females . However additional research is required , particularly with regard to the potential long-term effects of mind – body interventions in school setting s. The present study contributes to the literature on adolescence by examining school-based yoga as a novel prevention program for substance use risk factors Gut microbiota-related metabolites are potential clinical biomarkers for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Circulating succinate , a metabolite produced by both microbiota and the host , is increased in hypertension , ischemic heart disease , and type 2 diabetes . We aim ed to analyze systemic levels of succinate in obesity , a major risk factor for CVD , and its relationship with gut microbiome . We explored the association of circulating succinate with specific metagenomic signatures in cross-sectional and prospect i ve cohorts of Caucasian Spanish subjects . Obesity was associated with elevated levels of circulating succinate concomitant with impaired glucose metabolism . This increase was associated with specific changes in gut microbiota related to succinate metabolism : a higher relative abundance of succinate-producing Prevotellaceae ( P ) and Veillonellaceae ( V ) , and a lower relative abundance of succinate-consuming Odoribacteraceae ( O ) and Clostridaceae ( C ) in obese individuals , with the ( P + V/O + C ) ratio being a main determinant of plasma succinate .  Weight loss  intervention decreased ( P + V/O + C ) ratio coincident with the reduction in circulating succinate . In the spontaneous evolution after good dietary advice , alterations in circulating succinate levels were linked to specific metagenomic signatures associated with carbohydrate metabolism and energy production with independence of body weight change . Our data support the importance of microbe – microbe interactions for the metabolite signature of gut microbiome and uncover succinate as a potential microbiota-derived metabolite related to CVD risk Background Non-communicable diseases ( NCDs , e.g. cardiovascular disease ) are responsible for high rates of morbidity and the majority of premature deaths worldwide . It is necessary to develop preventative interventions that can reduce the associated risk factors of NCDs . Research ers have found that the biomarker adrenomedullin ( ADM ) becomes elevated years before the onset of NCDs and might play an important role in their development . ADM has also been linked to psychological problems such as stress , anxiety , and depression , which are known risk factors of NCDs . In this r and omized controlled trial , we examined whether participating in a five-week yoga intervention reduces ADM and increases psychological health in middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed , but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints . Methods One hundred and five adults ( 78 % women ; mean age = 53.5 , SD = 6.7 ) were r and omly assigned to ( 1 ) a five-week Yin yoga intervention , ( 2 ) a five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice ( called the YOMI program ) , or ( 3 ) a control group who did not practice yoga or mindfulness for five weeks . Results Compared to the control group , we observed significantly greater pre-post reductions in plasma ADM levels ( p < .001 ) , anxiety ( p ≤ .002 ) , and sleep problems ( p ≤ .003 ) in both intervention groups . Furthermore , the YOMI group exclusively showed significantly greater pre-post reductions in stress ( p = .012 ) and depression ( p = .021 ) compared to the control group . Significant correlations ( p < .05 ) were found between pre-post reductions in ADM and anxiety symptoms ( p = .02 ) and depression ( p = .04 ) in the entire sample . Conclusion The five-week Yin yoga-based interventions appeared to reduce both the physiological and psychological risk factors known to be associated with NCDs . The study suggests that incorporating Yin yoga could be an easy and low-cost method of limiting the negative health effects associated with high stress . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Background Chronic work-related stress is a significant and independent risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and associated mortality , particularly when compounded by a sedentary work environment . Heart rate variability ( HRV ) provides an estimate of parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic control , and can serve as a marker of physiological stress . Hatha yoga is a physically dem and ing practice that can help to reduce stress ; however , time constraints incurred by work and family life may limit participation . The purpose of the present study is to determine if a 10-week , worksite-based yoga program delivered during lunch hour can improve resting HRV and related physical and psychological parameters in sedentary office workers . Methods and design This is a parallel-arm RCT that will compare the outcomes of participants assigned to the experimental treatment group ( yoga ) to those assigned to a no-treatment control group .  Participants r and omized to the experimental condition will engage in a 10-week yoga program delivered at their place of work . The yoga sessions will be group-based , prescribed three times per week during lunch hour , and will be led by an experienced yoga instructor . The program will involve teaching beginner students safely and progressively over 10 weeks a yoga sequence that incorporates asanas ( poses and postures ) , vinyasa ( exercises ) , pranayama ( breathing control ) and meditation . The primary outcome of this study is the high frequency ( HF ) spectral power component of HRV ( measured in absolute units ; i.e. ms2 ) , a measure of parasympathetic autonomic control . Secondary outcomes include additional frequency and time domains of HRV , and measures of physical functioning and psychological health status . Measures will be collected prior to and following the intervention period , and at 6 months follow-up to determine the effect of intervention withdrawal . Discussion This study will determine the effect of worksite-based yoga practice on HRV and physical and psychological health status . The findings may assist in implementing practical interventions , such as yoga , into the workplace to mitigate stress , enhance health status and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases . Trial Registration ACTRN12611000536965URL : Ayurveda is derived from 2 Sanskrit words , namely , " Ayus " and " Veda , " meaning life and knowledge , respectively . It literally means science of life . Ayurveda , of which yoga is an integral part , is widely practice d in India and is gaining acceptance in many countries around the world . It is a comprehensive and a holistic system , the focus of which is on the body , mind , and consciousness . The Ayurvedic treatment consists of the use herbal preparations , diet , yoga , meditation , and other practice s. Based on the review of available studies , the evidence is not convincing that any Ayurvedic herbal treatment is effective in the treatment of heart disease or hypertension . However , the use of certain spices and herbs such as garlic and turmeric in an overall healthy diet is appropriate . Many herbs used by Ayurvedic practitioners show promise and could be appropriate for larger r and omized trials . Yoga , an integral part of Ayurveda , has been shown to be useful to patients with heart disease and hypertension .  Yoga  reduces anxiety , promotes well-being , and improves quality of life . Its safety profile is excellent . Its use as a complementary therapeutic regimen under medical supervision is appropriate and could be worth considering BACKGROUND Studies have shown that South Asians are highly susceptible to cardiovascular diseases ( CVDs ) . There is very little information available about the prevalence of risk factors for CVD in the physician population , a group that might be expected to be more aware of cardiovascular risk and health status . AIM To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors - including metabolic , dietary and behavioural - among the physician population in southern India . METHODS Approximately 4000 physicians of differing specialties from eight southern districts in Tamilnadu , India , in and around the city of Madurai were listed . Of these , 1600 were r and omly selected to participate in a cross-sectional survey  , of which 1514 physicians agreed to participate . The survey included demographic question naires , objective measurements of blood pressure , fasting blood sugar , fasting lipids and waist circumference , and question naires about their dietary and behavioural habits .  RESULTS Complete data were available for 1433 physicians . Using a blood pressure cut-off value of 130/85 mmHg or higher , the study recorded a prevalence of 41 % among men and 23 % among women . On applying the International Diabetes Federation criteria for the metabolic syndrome for the South Asian population , the present study identified 49 % of female physicians and 41 % of male physicians as having the metabolic syndrome . Only 17 % were physically active . Less than one-half of them consumed vegetables . Nearly 31 % of male physicians were smokers . CONCLUSION Analysis of these data suggests that the risk for CVD and stroke is at epidemic proportions in a cohort of well-educated physicians who are in the highest quintile of income OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention on risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and markers of inflammation and endothelial function in overweight and obese men . DESIGN Nonr and omized prospect i ve lifestyle intervention study with pre-post design . SETTING AND LOCATION : Integral Health Clinic , an outpatient facility providing yoga-based lifestyle intervention programs for prevention and management of chronic diseases . SUBJECTS Overweight and obese men ( n=51 ) were enrolled in the study . Subjects who were physically unable to participate and those participating in other interventions were excluded from the study . INTERVENTION A pretested intervention program including asanas ( physical postures ) , pranayama ( breathing exercises ) , group discussion s , lectures , and individualized advice . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was weight loss , and the secondary outcome measures were clinical and laboratory correlates of CVD risk , levels of interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) , adiponectin , and endothelin-1 ( ET-1 ) . RESULTS Men ( n=51 , body mass index [ BMI ] 26.26±2.42 kg/m(2 ) ) were enrolled and underwent a yoga-based lifestyle intervention for 10 days . Of 51 subjects , 30 completed the study . There was a significant reduction in weight from Baseline to Day 10 ( 74.60±7.98 , 72.69±8.37 kg , p<0.001 , respectively ) , BMI ( 26.26±2.42 , 25.69±2.47 kg/m(2 ) , p<0.001 , respectively ) , and systolic BP ( 121.73±11.58 , 116.73±9.00 , p=0.042 , respectively ) . There was a significant reduction in plasma IL-6 from Baseline to Day 10 ( median 2.24 vs. 1.26 pg/mL , respectively , p=0.012 ) . There was a significant increase in the plasma adiponectin from Baseline to Day 10 ( median 4.95 vs. 6.26 μg/mL , respectively , p=0.014 ) . Plasma ET-1 level remained unchanged . CONCLUSION These findings suggest that even a short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention may be an important modality to reduce the risk for CVD as indicated by weight loss , reduction in systolic blood pressure , an increase in adiponectin , and decrease in IL-6 in overweight and obese men CONTEXT Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) is associated with the metabolic syndrome and , consequently , with a potentially increased risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and related mortality later in life . Studies regarding CVD and mortality in PCOS women well into the postmenopausal age are lacking . OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine whether postmenopausal PCOS women differ from controls regarding cardiovascular risk factors , myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) , stroke and mortality . DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted , at a university hospital , a prospect i ve study of 35 PCOS women ( 61 - 79 yr ) and 120 age-matched controls . The study was performed 21 yr after the initial study . PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five PCOS women ( Rotterdam criteria ) and 68 controls participated in all examinations . Data on morbidity were based on 32 of 34 PCOS women and on 95 of 119 controls . INTERVENTIONS INTERVENTIONS included reexamination , interviews , and data from the National Board of Health and Welfare and from the Hospital Discharge Registry . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Blood pressure , glucose , insulin , triglycerides , total cholesterol , high- and low-density lipoprotein , apolipoprotein A1 and B , fibrinogen , and plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen were studied . Incidences of MI , stroke , hypertension , diabetes , cancer , cause of death , and age at death were recorded . RESULTS PCOS women had a higher prevalence of hypertension ( P = 0.008 ) and higher triglyceride levels ( P = 0.012 ) than controls . MI , stroke , diabetes , cancer , and mortality prevalence was similar in the two cohorts with similar body mass index . CONCLUSIONS The well-described cardiovascular/metabolic risk profile in pre- and perimenopausal PCOS women does not entail an evident increase in cardiovascular events during the postmenopausal period Visceral fat ( VF ) increases with the menopause and is an independent predictor of the metabolic syndrome , diabetes , and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) in women . Little is known about how hormonal changes during the menopausal transition are related to the increase in VF . We aim ed to determine the relationship between bioavailable testosterone and VF in middle-aged women at various stages of the menopausal transition and whether this relationship is independent of age and other CVD risk factors . The Study of Women 's Health Across the Nation ( SWAN ) is a longitudinal , community-based study . This report uses baseline data from a population -based longitudinal ancillary study at the Chicago site to examine the cross-sectional relationship between testosterone and computed tomography (CT)-assessed VF  in women at different stages of the menopausal transition . Included are 359 women ( 47.2 % black ) , aged 42 - 60 years , who were r and omly selected from a complete community census in which a 72 % participation rate was achieved . In multivariate models , bioavailable testosterone was associated with VF independent of age , race , percent total body fat , and other cardiovascular risk factors . Bioavailable testosterone was a stronger predictor than estradiol and was interchangeable in its strength of association with sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG ) . As bioavailable testosterone was associated with VF even after adjusting for insulin resistance , this suggests that it plays an important role in regional fat distribution . Our findings may have direct implication s in explaining the effect of menopause-related testosterone predominance on VF accumulation and subsequent cardiovascular risk INTRODUCTION The biological mechanisms through which increased physical activity or structured exercise training lowers the risk of recurrent cardiac events are incompletely understood . We examined the extent to which modification of primary risk markers explains the association between physical activity and cardiovascular death in participants with diagnosed cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . METHODS AND RESULTS In a prospect i ve study of 1429 participants with physician-diagnosed CVD living in Engl and and Scotl and ( age = 66.5 ± 11.1 yr ( mean ± SD ) , 54.2 % men ) , we measured physical activity and several risk markers ( body mass index , total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio , diagnosed diabetes , systolic blood pressure , resting heart rate , C-reactive protein ) at baseline . The main outcome was CVD death . There were a total of 446 all-cause deaths during an average of 7.0 ± 3.1 yr of follow-up , of which 213 were attributed to cardiovascular causes . Participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least three sessions per week was associated with lower risk of CVD death ( hazard ratio = 0.61 , 95 % confidence interval = 0.38 - 0.98 ) . Physically active participants demonstrated significantly lower levels of body mass index , diabetes , and inflammatory risk ( C-reactive protein ) . Metabolic ( body mass index , total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio , and physician-diagnosed diabetes ) and inflammatory risk factors explained an estimated 12.8 % and 15.4 % , respectively , of the association between physical activity and CVD death . CONCLUSIONS Physical activity may reduce the risk of secondary CVD events , in part , by improving metabolic and inflammatory risk markers We used outcome data from a r and omized work site intervention trial to examine the cost-effectiveness of four cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk reduction programs : health risk assessment ( HRA ) , risk factor education ( RFE ) , behavioral counseling ( BC ) , and behavioral counseling plus incentives ( BCI ) . Composite CVD risk scores were derived from measures of serum total cholesterol , blood pressure , number of cigarettes smoked , body mass index , and aerobic capacity . The economic evaluation of the programs focused on the subset of costs most sensitive to the differences between the interventions , and a sensitivity analysis examined some of the relevant cost variations . At the 6-month follow-up ( i.e. , the " action " or initiation stage of lifestyle change ) , the RFE , BC , and BCI interventions produced a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk . Incremental analyses demonstrated RFE to be more cost-effective , but not as clinical ly effective as BC ; BC was more cost-effective than RFE when assessment costs were included , and BCI was judged to be the least cost-effective . At the 12-month follow-up ( i.e. , the " maintenance " stage of lifestyle of change ) , BC was the only program found to produce a significant reduction in CVD risk .  Individualized behavioral counseling was found to be a cost-effective strategy for the initiation and maintenance of CVD risk factor reduction OBJECTIVE The measurement of heart rate variability ( HRV ) is often applied as an index of autonomic nervous system ( ANS ) balance and , therefore , myocardial stability . Previous studies have suggested that relaxation or mind-body exercise can influence ANS balance positively as measured by HRV but may act via different mechanisms . No studies , to the authors ' knowledge , have examined the acute response in HRV to interventions combining relaxation and mind-body exercise . The objective of this study was to compare the acute HRV responses to Yoga Nidra relaxation alone versus Yoga Nidra relaxation preceded by Hatha yoga . DESIGN This was a r and omized counter-balanced trial . SETTING The trial was conducted in a university exercise physiology laboratory . SUBJECTS Subjects included 20 women and men ( 29.15±6.98 years of age , with a range of 18 - 47 years ) . INTERVENTIONS Participants completed a yoga plus relaxation ( YR ) session and a relaxation only ( R ) session . RESULTS The YR condition produced significant changes from baseline in heart rate ( HR ; beats per minute [ bpm ] , p<0.001 ) and indices of HRV : R-R ( ms , p<0.001 ) , pNN50 ( % , p=0.009 ) , low frequency ( LF ; % , p=0.008 ) and high frequency ( HF ; % , p=0.035 ) . The R condition produced significant changes from baseline in heart rate ( bpm , p<0.001 ) as well as indices of HRV : R-R ( ms , p<0.001 ) , HF ( ms(2 ) , p=0.004 ) , LF ( % , p=0.005 ) , HF ( % , p=0.008 ) and LF : HF ratio ( % , p=0.008 ) . There were no significant differences between conditions at baseline nor for the changes from baseline for any of the variables . CONCLUSIONS These changes demonstrate a favorable shift in autonomic balance to the parasympathetic branch of the ANS for both conditions , and that Yoga Nidra relaxation produces favorable changes in measures of HRV whether alone or preceded by a bout of Hatha yoga One of the most common integrative medicine ( IM ) modalities is yoga and related practice s. Previous work has shown that yoga may improve wellness in healthy people and have benefits for patients . However , the mechanisms of how yoga may positively affect the mind-body system are largely unknown . Here we have assessed possible rapid changes in global gene expression profiles in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( P BMC s ) in healthy people that practice d either a comprehensive yoga program or a  control regimen . The experimental sessions included gentle yoga postures , breathing exercises , and meditation ( Sudarshan Kriya and Related Practice s – SK&P ) compared with a control regimen of a nature walk and listening to relaxing music . We show that the SK&P program has a rapid and significantly greater effect on gene expression in P BMC s compared with the control regimen . These data suggest that yoga and related practice s result in rapid gene expression alterations which may be the basis for their longer term cell biological and higher level health effects BACKGROUND Yoga is a popular mind-body therapy that has demonstrated beneficial effects on psychological , behavioral , and functional outcomes . However , few studies have investigated effects on inflammatory processes . This study tested the hypothesis that an Iyengar yoga intervention specifically design ed for fatigued breast cancer survivors would lead to decreases in inflammation-related gene expression and circulating markers of proinflammatory cytokine activity . METHODS Breast cancer survivors with persistent cancer-related fatigue were r and omized to a 12-week Iyengar yoga intervention  ( n=16 ) or a 12-week health education control condition  ( n=15 ) . Blood sample s were collected at baseline , post-intervention , and at a 3-month follow-up for genome-wide transcriptional profiling and bioinformatic analyses . Plasma inflammatory markers and salivary cortisol were also assessed . RESULTS In promoter-based bioinformatics analyses , the yoga group showed reduced activity of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB ) , increased activity of the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid receptor , and reduced activity of cAMP response element-binding protein ( CREB ) family transcription factors relative to controls ( all ps<.05 ) . There was also a significant intervention effect on the soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II ( sTNF-RII ) , a marker of TNF activity ; plasma levels of sTNF-RII remained stable in the yoga group , whereas levels of this marker increased in the health education group ( p=.028 ) . A similar , non-significant trend was observed for the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist ( p=.16 ) . No significant changes in C reactive protein ( CRP ) , interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) , or diurnal cortisol measures were observed . CONCLUSIONS A 12-week restorative Iyengar yoga intervention reduced inflammation-related gene expression in breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue . These findings suggest that a targeted yoga program may have beneficial effects on inflammatory activity in this patient population , with potential relevance for behavioral and physical health BACKGROUND Observational data suggest that low 25-hyroxyvitamin D is associated with cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and its risk factors include diabetes , metabolic syndrome , insulin resistance , hypertension , microalbuminuria and inflammation . We examined the differences between risk factors of CVD before and after treatment with calcitriol in type 2 diabetic patients with vitamin D deficiency . METHODS This study was a clinical trial consisting of 119 type 2 diabetic patients . Forty three patients had vitamin D insufficiency ( 25 OH D less than 30 ng/dl ) who underwent calcitriol treatment  with 0.5 microgram per day for 8 weeks . Blood pressure , fasting blood sugar ( FBS ) , glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1C ) , lipid profile , high sensitive C-reactive protein ( HsCRP ) , Homocysteine and albumin to creatinine ratio were measured , before and after the treatment period . Then the two sets of results were compared with each other . RESULTS Following treatment with  calcitriol HbA1C , total cholesterol , low density lipoprotein(LDL ) , high density lipoprotein(HDL ) and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly ( p = 0.01 , 0.01 , 0.04 , 0.001 and 0.04 respectively ) but the changes in other parameters were not significant . CONCLUSION Replacement of vitamin D may have a beneficial effect on some of the risk factors of CVD in diabetic patients BACKGROUND Adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) frequently experience interference with everyday activities . Mind-body approaches such as yoga have been recommended as interventions for patients with IBS . Despite promising results among adult sample s , there have been limited studies exploring the efficacy of yoga with pediatric patients . OBJECTIVE To conduct a preliminary r and omized study of yoga as treatment for adolescents with IBS . METHODS Twenty-five adolescents aged 11 to 18 years with IBS were r and omly assigned to either a yoga or wait list control group . Before the intervention , both groups completed question naires assessing gastrointestinal symptoms , pain , functional disability , coping , anxiety and depression . The yoga intervention consisted of a 1 h instructional session , demonstration and practice , followed by four weeks of daily home practice guided by a video . After four weeks , adolescents repeated the baseline question naires . The wait list control group then received the yoga intervention and four weeks later completed an additional set of question naires . RESULTS Adolescents in the yoga group reported lower levels of functional disability , less use of emotion-focused avoidance and lower anxiety following the intervention than adolescents in the control group . When the pre- and postintervention data for the two groups were combined , adolescents had significantly lower scores for gastrointestinal symptoms and emotion-focused avoidance following the yoga intervention . Adolescents found the yoga to be helpful and indicated they would continue to use it to manage their IBS . CONCLUSIONS Yoga holds promise as an intervention for adolescents with IBS AIMS To investigate whether 6 months of isoflavone supplementation , which has been shown to be sufficient to improve menopausal symptoms , could also improve clinical cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk factors in obese postmenopausal women , compared with a placebo . METHODS A r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in which 50 obese postmenopausal women were divided into two groups ( isoflavones vs. placebo ) to examine the effect of 6 months of isoflavone supplement ( 70 mg ) on clinical CVD risk factors . Body composition ( DXA ) , medical and social characteristics , daily energy expenditure ( accelerometry ) , dietary intake ( 3-day dietary record ) , and blood biochemical analyses ( lipid profile , insulin , glucose ) were obtained . RESULTS At baseline , no differences were found between groups except for fasting insulin level . Women were thus considered at risk of CVD based on body composition but not biochemical variables . After 6 months , we observed that isoflavones did not favorably affect risk factors predisposing to CVD ( biochemical or body composition ) compared with placebo . CONCLUSIONS Isoflavones given for 6 months should not be considered protective against clinical CVD risk factors in obese postmenopausal women . Nevertheless , further research is needed to verify if isoflavones protect against CVD disease risk factors when administered for a longer duration or when combined with nutritional or exercise interventions . It would also be pertinent to study their effects in women with specific metabolic abnormalities
No significant difference was found between yoga and exercise .
Conclusions There is promising evidence of yoga on improving cardio-metabolic health .
Background Yoga , a popular mind-body practice , may produce changes in cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and metabolic syndrome risk factors .