Racial Differences in Yoga-Induced Responses

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to 1) determine whether racial differences are evident in resting arterial stiffness and ambulatory blood pressure between African Americans and Caucasians 2) compare heart rate, blood pressure and cytokine production responses to exercise (yoga) between African Americans and Caucasians; 3) compare isokinetic muscular strength between racial groups; and 4) determine if correlations exist between these measures.

Official Title
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Racial Differences in Yoga-Induced Cardiovascular and Immune Responses

Conditions
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Cardiovascular and Immune Responses to Yoga

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Vinyasa yoga session


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men between the ages of 18 and 39 (25 African American and 25 Caucasian) that are not professional or collegiate athletes Must exercise at least 3 days per week and have no more than 1 month of yoga practice. Exclusion Criteria: Having stage 2 hypertension (>130 mmHg for systolic / >90 mmHg for diastolic) or higher or having taken BP medications within the 3 months prior to testing Infection within the previous 4 weeks Known renal disease Prior myocardial infarction Known coronary artery disease Personal history of stroke Heart failure Cardiac arrhythmias Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Recent chest pain or dyspnea Orthopedic limitations that preclude the execution of yoga postures Current insulin dependence Chronic inflammatory conditions Blindness or deafness as participants will need to follow a yoga DVD in order to complete the session Having practiced yoga for more than 1 month Having parents of mixed racial backgrounds (i.e. both parents must be Caucasian or African American) Not being African American or Caucasian Being a professional or collegiate athlete Being insulin-dependent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 39 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1-hour vinyasa yoga session<br>Participants will complete a 1-hour vinyasa yoga DVD. | Behavioral: Vinyasa yoga session<br>* One hour of vinyasa yoga will be completed.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arterial stiffness | Cardio-ankle vascular index | Once at baseline | 
| Ambulatory blood pressure | 24 hours of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring | Once at baseline | 
| Isokinetic strength | Isokinetic leg extension and flexion strength assessments at 60,120,210,300, and 400 degrees per second | Once at baseline | 
| Inflammatory markers | Blood samples will be obtained and analyzed for interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha | Once at baseline | 
| Inflammatory markers | Blood samples will be obtained and analyzed for interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha | Once 30 minutes into the 1-hour yoga session | 
| Inflammatory markers | Blood samples will be obtained and analyzed for interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha | Once immediately after the 1-hour yoga session |