Cade WT, Reeds DN, Mondy KE, et al. Yoga lifestyle intervention reduces blood pressure in HIV-infected adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors. HIV Med. 2010 Jul 1;11(6):379-88. Epub 2010 Jan 5.
PubMed PMID: 20059570; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2889007.
[Free full text via PubMed Central.]

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, with grant support from the US National Institutes of Health, conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study (NCT#00627380) to evaluate whether a yoga lifestyle intervention improves risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), virologic or immunologic status, or quality of life in HIV-infected adults more than in a matched control group. (Infection with HIV and treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy have been associated with bodily changes that increase CVD.)

In this study, 60 HIV-infected adults with mild-moderate CVD risk were assigned to 20 weeks of supervised Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga practice or standard-of-care treatment. The yoga sequence was designed for people with no previous yoga exposure. Beginning with feedback from the participants about their previous session, each session included:

1. Alignment of muscle locks (bandhas) and controlled breathing (Ujjayi)
2. Warm-up
3. Sun Salute A x3, Salute B x1(Surya Namaskara))
4. Standing Asanas
5. Seated Asanas
6. Lying Supine Asanas
7. Cool-down (Restorative breathing techniques)

Findings from the study (e.g., reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures) suggested to the investigators that practicing yoga directly acts to lower blood pressure in people living with HIV and may lower their CVD risk.

Free full text is available via PubMed Central.

The information on my blog is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge. A physician should always be consulted for any health problem or medical condition.

Kutty BM, Raju TR. New vistas in treating diabetes–insight into a holistic approach. Indian J Med Res. 2010 May;131:606-7. PubMed PMID: 20516530.


Kutty and Raju, researchers in the Department of Neurophysiology at the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences in Bangalore, note that in India, presently about 30 million people are diabetic which will rise to about 60 million by 2017.

They undertook a meta-analysis of studies of yoga and meditation in the treatment of diabetes, with the following conclusion:

Practice of yoga and meditation is known to induce hypometabolic state with parasympathetic predominance, suggesting that yogic practices per se would create a conducive internal atmosphere from the cellular to system level. This would help to manage the stress and anxiety effectively in addition to its positive regulatory role on other systems. Considering its health there is a need to integrate yoga in the conventional treatment regimen as an adjunct/add on therapy for an effective treatment of DM. This paper provides a convincing evidence for the effectiveness of combination therapy over conventional treatment in enhancing cognitive functions in diabetes. More studies need to be carried out along this line, in order to increase awareness among public.

The information on my blog is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge. A physician should always be consulted for any health problem or medical condition.

Tüzün S, Aktas I, Akarirmak U, et al. Yoga might be an alternative training for the quality of life and balance in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2010 Mar;46(1):69-72. PubMed PMID: 20332729.

In a small study of 26 postmenopausal osteoporotic women, investigators at Istanbul University evaluated the effect of yoga exercises on balance and life quality in comparison with a classic osteoporosis exercise program. They found that yoga education had a positive effect on pain, physical functions, social functions, and balance and concluded that yoga appears to be an alternative physical activity for the rehabilitation of osteoporosis patients.

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The information on my blog is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge. A physician should always be consulted for any health problem or medical condition.