title: Serum mineral status and climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women before and after Yoga therapy, an ongoing study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many women report an increased level of anxiety, irritability and mood swings during their perimenopausal state. Studies show that physically active people can reduce their anxiety and depression by practicing yoga. Serum minerals such as calcium, copper and magnesium and the ferro-oxidase, ceruloplasmin play an important role in the body during the perimenopausal period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to assess the serum mineral status, anthropometric parameters and climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women before and after yoga intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 subjects with perimenopausal symptoms, aged between 40 and 60 years (49.43 ± 6.15) were included in the study. Yoga intervention was given on a daily basis (45 min duration) for 12 weeks. The climacteric symptoms were assessed by Greene's climacteric scale and biochemical parameters were analyzed spectrophotometrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in the waist hip ratio (P < 0.036) and body mass index (P < 0.036) was observed after yoga intervention. Systolic (P < 0.064) and diastolic (P < 0.082) blood pressure (BP) showed marginal decrease after yoga therapy. Climacteric symptoms improved significantly (P < 0.001) after yoga intervention. A significant increase (P < 0.001) in serum calcium and copper and a marked decrease in serum magnesium (P < 0.05) and ceruloplasmin (P < 0.028) levels was observed, post yoga therapy. Serum magnesium negatively correlated (r = -0.467, P < 0.035) with systolic BP after yoga intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall changes observed in the mineral status and climacteric symptoms suggest that yoga therapy protocol can be effectively used to improve the quality of life in perimenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Archana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Akshatha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gayathry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Revathi P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
keywords: Blood pressure; Greene's climacteric scale; body mass index; perimenopause; serum minerals; yoga therapy