title: A yoga intervention for type 2 diabetes risk reduction: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem in many countries including India. Yoga may be an effective type 2 diabetes prevention strategy in India, particularly given its cultural familiarity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a parallel, randomized controlled pilot study to collect feasibility and preliminary efficacy data on yoga for diabetes risk factors among people at high risk of diabetes. Primary outcomes included: changes in BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and cholesterol. We also looked at measures of psychological well-being including changes in depression, anxiety, positive and negative affect and perceived stress. Forty-one participants with elevated fasting blood glucose in Bangalore, India were randomized to either yoga (n = 21) or a walking control (n = 20). Participants were asked to either attend yoga classes or complete monitored walking 3-6 days per week for eight weeks. Randomization and allocation was performed using computer-generated random numbers and group assignments delivered in sealed, opaque envelopes generated by off-site study staff. Data were analyzed based on intention to treat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study was feasible in terms of recruitment, retention and adherence. In addition, yoga participants had significantly greater reductions in weight, waist circumference and BMI versus control (weight -0.8 ± 2.1 vs. 1.4 ± 3.6, p = 0.02; waist circumference -4.2 ± 4.8 vs. 0.7 ± 4.2, p < 0.01; BMI -0.2 ± 0.8 vs. 0.6 ± 1.6, p = 0.05). There were no between group differences in fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, insulin resistance or any other factors related to diabetes risk or psychological well-being. There were significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, anxiety, depression, negative affect and perceived stress in both the yoga intervention and walking control over the course of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among Indians with elevated fasting blood glucose, we found that participation in an 8-week yoga intervention was feasible and resulted in greater weight loss and reduction in waist circumference when compared to a walking control. Yoga offers a promising lifestyle intervention for decreasing weight-related type 2 diabetes risk factors and potentially increasing psychological well-being.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identified NCT00090506.
authors: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, 1545 Divisadero St,, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. mcdermottk@ocim.ucsf.edu.
authors: Kelly A
authors: KA
authors: McDermott
authors: Mohan Raghavendra
authors: MR
authors: Rao
authors: Raghuram
authors: R
authors: Nagarathna
authors: Elizabeth J
authors: EJ
authors: Murphy
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Burke
authors: Ramarao Hongasandra
authors: RH
authors: Nagendra
authors: Frederick M
authors: FM
authors: Hecht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019518:Postprandial Period; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin