Effects of yoga and resistance training on blood lipids in people without preexisting cardiovascular disease
Authors: Isayeva A , Vovchenko M , Matyashova L 
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Yoga and resistance exercise are gaining popularity and can improve the health status in the adult population. There is a lack of evidence that compares these two types of physical activity and their influence on lipid profile and cardiovascular risk on people without preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Aim

To estimate and compare effects of yoga and resistance training on blood lipids and anthropometric parameters in people without preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Methods

123 adults without preexisting cardiovascular disease were enrolled in the study. Participants had practiced in yoga (63 people) or resistance exercise (60 people) at least 2 times a week during the last 12 months. The control consisted of 35 people who did not engage in any regular physical exercise. Weight, height, waist, hip circumference and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol, blood glucose were measured.  To assess physical activity and sedentary time, the International Questionnaire on long Physical Activity (IPAQ) was used. Daily calorie food intake were measured by Test of rational nutrition TRN-D03.

Result

The average age of all participants was 35,06 ± 8,45 years old. BMI was significantly affected in "yoga training" (1-st group) and "resistance training" (2-nd group) groups (22,9 ± 2,6 and 24,2 ± 3,7; p = 0,19), but was significantly lower than in control group (3-rd group) 25,8 ± 2,1. Total Cholesterol, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol and blood glucose were not with significant difference between "yoga training" and "resistance training" groups. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was in "yoga training" group  - 1,65 ± 0,37; in "resistance training" - 1,43 ± 0,21, and in control group - 1,34 ± 0,22 mmol/l (p1-2 = 0,001; p1-3 = 0,0001; p2-3 = 0,037). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was in yoga training group - 2,69 ± 0,98; in resistance training group - 2,72 ± 0,77, and in control group - 2,93 ± 0,89 mmol/l (p1-2 = 0,35; p1-3 = 0,053; p2-3 = 0,20). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure were in "yoga training" group - 117,0 ± 9,79; in "resistance training" - 118,5 ± 8,93; 3-rd - 120,2 ± 10,1 mm Hg (p &gt; 0.05).

Although, there were no significant differences in LDL-cholesterol levels between the yoga and resistance training groups, we found an association between weekly vigorous physical activity level and LDL cholesterol in the male group. LDL-cholesterol level in group 1 (vigorous physical activity 0-960 MET-min/week) was 3,4 ± 0,88 mmol/l; group 2 (vigorous physical activity 960 - 1440 MET-min/week) was 2,6 ± 0,74 mmol/l  and in group 3 (vigorous physical activity &gt; 1440 MET-min/week) - 2,1 ± 0,71 mmol/l (ANOVA-test F = 16,3; p = 0,03).

Conclusion

Yoga and resistance training have positive effects on HDL, LDL level and BMI, without effects on blood pressure in people without preexisting cardiovascular disease. The level of LDL was influenced not by the type of training, but by intensity of weekly physical activity.