Effect of yoga on depression and anxiety of women”,

a b s t r a c t Yoga has often been perceived as a method of stress management tool that can assist in alleviating depression and anxiety disorders. This study sought to evaluate the influence of yoga in relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety in women who were referred to a yoga clinic. Methods: The study involved a convenience sample of women who were referred to a yoga clinic from July 2006 to July 2007. All new cases were evaluated on admission using a personal information questionnaire well as Beck and Spielberger tests. Participants were randomly assigned into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group (n ¼ 34) participated in twice weekly yoga classes of 90 min duration for two months. The control group (n ¼ 31) was assigned to a waiting list and did not receive yoga. Both groups were evaluated again after the two-month study period. Results: The average prevalence of depression in the experimental group pre and post Yoga intervention was 12.82 AE 7.9 and 10.79 AE 6.04 respectively, a statistically insignificant decrease (p ¼ 0.13). However, when the experimental group was compared to the control group, women who participated in yoga classes showed a significant decrease in state anxiety (p ¼ 0.03) and trait anxiety (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Participation in a two-month yoga class can lead to significant reduction in perceived levels of anxiety in women who suffer from anxiety disorders. This study suggests that yoga can be considered as a complementary therapy or an alternative method for medical therapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders

Efficacy of micronutrient supplementation on skin aging and seasonal variation: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

Ferial Fanian,1,2 Sophie Mac-Mary,3 Adeline Jeudy,1,2 Thomas Lihoreau,1,2 Rafat Messikh,1,2 Jean-Paul Ortonne,4 Jean-Marie Sainthillier,3 Ahmed Elkhyat,1,2 Alexandre Guichard,1,2 Kamran Hejazi Kenari,1,2 Philippe Humbert1,2,5,61Center for Studies and Research on the Integument (CERT), Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; 2Clinical Investigation Center, CIC-BT 506, CHRU Besançon, France; 3SKINEXIGENCE, University Hospital of Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France; 4Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of L'archet, Nice, France; 5University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; 6INSERM 1098, Structure Fédérative de Recherche, Besançon, FranceBackground: Several studies have confirmed dramatic changes in skin surface parameters during the winter months. Although there are many studies supporting the positive effects of topical treatment, there are no published studies demonstrating the effects of oral supplementation in the prevention of negative skin changes during winter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an oral micronutrient supplement in preventing the negative effects of winter weather on skin quality using noninvasive biometrologic instruments.Methods: This study included 80 healthy female volunteers aged 35–55 years with phototype II–IV skin. Randomization was balanced. Two tablets of a micronutrient supplement (Perfectil® Platinum) or placebo were administered once daily for 4 months. The volunteers were examined at baseline, after 4 months, and 6 weeks after termination of treatment (month 5.5). The evaluation included skin microrelief by Visioscan® as the main outcome, and the secondary outcomes were results on standard macrophotography, skin tension by Reviscometer®, skin high-frequency ultrasound, and self-assessment.Results: For all pseudoroughness and microrelief indicators, there was a significant increase from baseline to month 4 in the placebo group (P<0.05) but no change in the active group. Descriptive statistics for the mean minimum, mean maximum, and minimum to maximum ratio on the nonexposed study zone showed a significant and dramatic difference between baseline and month 4 and between baseline and month 5.5 (P<0.05) in the active group, indicating decreasing anisotropy of the skin. High-frequency ultrasound on the exposed study zone revealed that skin thickness was significantly decreased in the placebo group during winter but was stable in the treated group (P<0.01). The photography scaling and self-assessment questionnaire revealed no significant changes in either group.Conclusion: These results indicate that the skin is prone to seasonal changes during winter, particularly in exposed areas. The data also indicate that oral supplementation can be a safe treatment, with no serious side effects, and may prevent or even eliminate the negative effects of winter on the skin.Keywords: oral supplementation, skin, elasticity, relief, high-frequency ultrasound, Reviscometer®, Visioscan®, nutraceuticals, winter variatio