Yoga improves vascular health: meta analysis shows path to prevention

Yoga improves vascular health: meta analysis shows path to prevention

In the core of modern health research, it is clear that the health of our blood vessels is crucial for general well -being and prevention of diseases. A malfunction of the inner layer of blood vessels, known as an endothel, plays a central role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and a variety of other serious health problems, including diabetes, kidney failure, cancer and viral infections. The endothelium helps to regulate blood flow and prevent inflammation, which means that its health is of critical importance.

In view of this important role of the endothel, scientists have investigated whether yoga - a practice that includes physical exercises and meditative elements - could improve the function of the endothel. Research from 2024 has addressed this question through a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies. The results of 18 studies with a total of 1043 participants were analyzed. This analysis has shown that yoga training has led to an improvement in the endothelial function in some cases, whereby the flow ability of the blood in the Armarteries, measured by the so-called river-mediated dilation (FMD), has been improved.

Although six of the studies examined could not find any statistically significant effects from yoga on the endothelial function, the meta-analysis has shown, taking controlled experiments into account, that yoga could have a positive effect. This indicates that yoga as part of integrative medicine has the potential to reduce the health of the endothelium and thus the risk of various diseases. However, the moderate statistical heterogeneity indicates that the results varied between the studies, which means that further large -scale clinical experiments are necessary to be able to make definitive recommendations.

The significance of this research is that it offers a non-pharmaceutical, accessible approach to improve endothelial health and thus to prevent a number of diseases. Yoga, as a form of exercise that includes the body and mind, could therefore be a valuable addition to existing preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Since no negative side effects have been reported, Yoga represents a safe method that people can consider in order to improve the function of their blood vessels and to reduce their general health risk. It is important to emphasize that the decision to practice yoga to improve the endothelial function should best be made in consultation with medical specialist personnel, especially if there are already existing health conditions.

Basic terms and concepts

  • endothelial dysfunction: a disturbance of the normal function of the innermost layer of the blood vessels, which can lead to different diseases.
  • atherosclerosis: A disease in which plaques form on the walls of the arteries, which limits blood flow and can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
  • yoga: A traditional practice that includes physical exercises, breathing techniques and meditation to promote health and well -being.
  • meta-analysis: A quantitative scientific examination method that summarizes the results of several studies to draw overarching conclusions.
  • river -mediated dilation (FMD): A measure of the endothelial function, which measures the ability of the blood vessels to expand in response to increased blood flow.
  • Statistical heterogeneity: variability in the results between different studies that are examined in a meta-analysis.

effectiveness of yoga on the endothelial function: a systematic overview and meta-analysis

Endothelial dysfunction is an initial step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and plays a central role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and a number of other clinical pictures, including diabetes, kidney failure, cancer and viral infections. Strategies that protect the vascular endothelial function and slow down endothelial dysfunctions at an early stage could potentially serve in the prevention of vascular, cardiac and many human diseases. Although several studies on the effects of yoga on the endothelial function have been carried out, the results of which have not yet been synthesized. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of yoga on the endothelial function through a systematic overview and meta-analysis.

In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), a systematic overview and meta-analysis of studies were carried out, which assessed the effects of yoga practice on the vascular endothelial function. The PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (Central) were searched for the research until August 2022. The search strategy was constructed for yoga-based techniques and endothelial function. All yoga-based intervention studies on endothelial function or dysfunction have been included in this overview. Due to the different methodology of the selected studies, a narrative synthesis and descriptive analysis was carried out. A formal meta-analysis of controlled studies that rated the effect of yoga on the river-mediated dilation (FMD) as a measure of the endothelial function.

A total of 18 studies with 1043 participants were included in the overview. In 12 studies, an improvement in the endothelial function through yoga training was determined, while 6 studies did not find a statistically robust effect. The meta -analysis (n = 395 participants, 6 studies, 7 comparisons) showed an increase in brachial FMD through yoga practice (medium difference = -1.23 %; 95 % confidence interval: -2.23 to -0.23; p = 0.02). The heterogeneity between the studies was 43 % (Tau = 0.70, χ^2 = 10.49). The risk of a bias was low to moderate in these studies. No unwanted effects have been reported.

In summary, yoga practice improved the endothelial function. Yoga could be a safe and potential integrative medicine to improve endothelial function. The statistical heterogeneity, i.e. the variation of the FMD results between the studies, was moderate, so that large clinical studies are required for clinical recommendations.

source