A Comparison of Blood Viscosity, Hematocrit and Blood Pressure between Yoga Practitioners and Sedentary Individuals

Elevations in whole blood viscosity (WBV) and hematocrit (Hct) have been linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coexist with elevations in systolic blood pressure (SBP). Endurance training has been demonstrated to lower WBV and Hct; however, evidence supporting the efficacy of yoga on these measures is sparse. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted examining WBV, Hct and blood pressure among yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 months of consistent practice and sedentary, healthy adults. Blood samples were collected from a total of 42 participants: 23 sedentary adults and 19 regular yoga practitioners. Brachial arterial blood pressure (BP) was measured and the averages of 3 measures were reported. RESULTS: Yoga practitioners had significantly lower WBV at 45 s-1 (p \u3c 0.01), 90 s-1 (p \u3c 0.01), 220 s-1 (p \u3c 0.05), and 450 s-1 (p \u3c 0.01) than sedentary participants. No significant group differences in Hct (p =0.38) were found. A tendency toward lower systolic BP (p=0.06) was observed in the yoga practitioner group; however, no significant group differences in BP were exhibited. CONCLUSION: A consistent yoga practice was associated with lower WBV and a trend of lower SBP, health indicators associated with CVD risk. These findings support a regular yoga practice as a valid form of exercise for improving rheological indicators of cardiovascular health

A Comparison of Blood Viscosity and Hematocrit Levels between Yoga Practitioners and Sedentary Adults

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 425-432, 2019. Elevations in whole blood viscosity (WBV) and hematocrit (Hct), have been linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endurance training has been demonstrated to lower WBV and Hct; however, evidence supporting the efficacy of yoga on these measures is sparse. A cross-sectional study was conducted examining WBV and Hct levels between yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 years of consistent practice and sedentary, healthy adults. Blood samples were collected from a total of 42 participants: 23 sedentary adults and 19 regular yoga practitioners. Brachial arterial blood pressure (BP) was measured and the averages of 3 measures were reported. The yoga practitioner group had significantly lower WBV at 45 s-1 (p \u3c 0.01), 90 s-1 (p \u3c 0.01), 220 s-1 (p \u3c 0.05), and 450 s-1 (p \u3c 0.05) than sedentary participants. No significant group differences in Hct (p =0.38) were found. A tendency toward lower systolic BP (p=0.06) was observed in the yoga practitioner group; however, no significant group differences in BP were exhibited. A consistent yoga practice was associated with lower WBV, a health indicator related to CVD risk. These findings support a regular yoga practice as a valid form of exercise for improving rheological indicators of cardiovascular health

Acute Effects of Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Lipid Profile and Fasting Glucose

Dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia are modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which could be impacted by yoga. Short- and long-term interventional trials have demonstrated the efficacies of various styles of hatha yoga in improving both lipid profile and fasting glucose concentrations; however, the acute effects of hatha yoga on these measures are unknown. Vinyasa flow yoga is a style of hatha yoga characterized by continuous movement, smooth transitioning between postures, and a synchronization of breath and posture transitions. To date, it is unknown whether this style of yoga can alter lipid profile or glucose concentrations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a Vinyasa yoga session on lipid profile and fasting glucose concentrations in yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 months of yoga practice experience. METHODS: Eighteen yoga practitioners (20 – 75) completed one 60-minute Vinyasa yoga DVD. Whole blood samples were obtained (after 8 hrs of fasting) and analyzed for total- and HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations via reflectance photometry. Briefly, 35µL blood samples were applied to test cassette sampling wells and color changes of the reagent pads were converted to concentration values. LDL-cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewalde equation. RESULTS: After completion of the Vinyasa flow yoga session, no changes occurred in glucose (p = 0.398) or total- (p=0.344), HDL- (p = 0.806), or LDL-cholesterol (p=0.685). Triglyceride concentrations also remained the same after the session (p = 0.462). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that engaging in vinyasa flow yoga for 1 hour does not induce beneficial changes in lipid profile and glucose concentrations. Further research is needed to determine the potential efficacy of yoga, an alternative exercise mode, in producing favorable changes in lipid profile, glucose and overall CVD risk profile. This study was funded in part by Pure Action, Inc. Austin, TX, USA

Characterization, and Strategies for Resolution, of Aberrant Endothelial Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Implications for Wound Healing

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) due to limitations on nutritive and oxygenated blood flow. One proposed mechanism of diabetic EC dysfunction is the chemokine ligand/receptor CCL28/CCR10 axis in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-nitric oxide (NO) signaling, a potent vasodilatory and angiogenesis mechanism participating in the orchestration of wound healing. Upon CCL28 overactivation, CCR10 directly binds to eNOS facilitating internalization for lysosomal degradation and concomitant inhibition of NO production. Evidence remains undetermined if the anti-inflammatory effects of aerobic exercise (AE) will alleviate heightened CCL28 or if small peptide (Myr-CBD7), designed to block the intracellular CCR10 binding domain of eNOS, may preserve eNOS expression and NO production. We hypothesized that elevated CCL28 is associated with diminished NO bioavailability and that targeted inhibition of CCR10/eNOS binding will rescue eNOS expression. We examined CCL28 and insulin sensitivity in a population of lean or overweight or obese individuals that spanned the insulin resistance continuum in accordance with the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care in Diabetes (2023). We demonstrate typical insulin sensitive individuals have greater concentrations of circulating CCL28 compared to typical T2D patients while a subset of T2D patients demonstrated seemingly “hyper-elevated” concentrations of CCL28, deemed pathologic. We then demonstrate a moderate-vigorous AE intervention reduced CCL28 levels in T2D patients and these reductions were weakly associated with increases of NO bioavailability in circulation. These data also extend the notion that a subset of T2D patients display pathologic concentrations of CCL28 but experience the greatest correction in response to AE intervention, most applicable to modern precision medicine efforts. To translate these human observations, we then employed a translational cell model leveraging serum collected from insulin sensitive and T2D populations for treatment of dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMVEC) harvested from insulin sensitive and T2D populations to assess HDMVEC function and CCL28-CCR10-eNOS regulation. HDMVECs collected from healthy individuals displayed greater amounts of eNOS and modestly lesser CCR10 protein expression than HDMVECs collected from T2D patients. Later, eNOS protein expression was also found to coincide with gene expression, in which, healthy HDMVECs displayed greater eNOS mRNA. T2D HDMVECs treated with human serum stratified by elevated CCL28 displayed diminished performance on wound healing assay and increased signatures of pathologic angiogenesis in tube-formation assay. These effects were independent of CCR10:eNOS protein expression. Healthy HDMVECs also demonstrated attenuation in tube-formation outcomes of network length and number of branches coinciding with increases of IL6 and reductions of CAV1 and HIF1A gene expression. T2D HDMVECs demonstrated no changes in tube-formation outcomes of network length or number of branches, or gene expression changes in IL6 or CAV1 but inverse increases of HIF1A uniquely under elevated CCL28 serum treatment conditions. Myr-CBD7 did not cause improvement compared to Myr-Scramble in wound healing assay or tube-formation outcomes nor CCR10:eNOS protein expression. In summary, circulating concentrations of CCL28 appear dysregulated in a subset of T2D patients compared to insulin sensitive individuals and were responsive to AE intervention. Further work is needed at the cellular level to elucidate CCL28-CCR10-eNOS regulation in HDMVECs and the therapeutic efficacy of Myr-CBD7. These works also unearth hyporesponsiveness of T2D HDMVECs to activating stimuli (i.e., diabetic milieu) likely independent of CCL28.PhDMovement Science PhDUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/177925/1/jshadiow_1.pd

Acute Effects of Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Lipid Profile and Fasting Glucose

Dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia are modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which could be impacted by yoga. Short- and long-term interventional trials have demonstrated the efficacies of various styles of hatha yoga in improving both lipid profile and fasting glucose concentrations; however, the acute effects of hatha yoga on these measures are unknown. Vinyasa flow yoga is a style of hatha yoga characterized by continuous movement, smooth transitioning between postures, and a synchronization of breath and posture transitions. To date, it is unknown whether this style of yoga can alter lipid profile or glucose concentrations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a Vinyasa yoga session on lipid profile and fasting glucose concentrations in yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 months of yoga practice experience. METHODS: Eighteen yoga practitioners (20 – 75) completed one 60-minute Vinyasa yoga DVD. Whole blood samples were obtained (after 8 hrs of fasting) and analyzed for total- and HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations via reflectance photometry. Briefly, 35µL blood samples were applied to test cassette sampling wells and color changes of the reagent pads were converted to concentration values. LDL-cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewalde equation. RESULTS: After completion of the Vinyasa flow yoga session, no changes occurred in glucose (p = 0.398) or total- (p=0.344), HDL- (p = 0.806), or LDL-cholesterol (p=0.685). Triglyceride concentrations also remained the same after the session (p = 0.462). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that engaging in vinyasa flow yoga for 1 hour does not induce beneficial changes in lipid profile and glucose concentrations. Further research is needed to determine the potential efficacy of yoga, an alternative exercise mode, in producing favorable changes in lipid profile, glucose and overall CVD risk profile. This study was funded in part by Pure Action, Inc. Austin, TX, USA

The Acute Effects of Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Arterial Stiffness

Arterial stiffness (AS) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerotic disease associated with reductions in the buffering capacity of the central, elastic arteries. Previous research has demonstrated reductions in AS with a relatively short-duration, 8-week Bikram (hot) yoga practice, however the acute effects of yoga of any kind on this measure have not been investigated. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute impact of one bout of Vinyasa flow yoga performed in thermoneutral conditions on indices of AS in healthy adults. METHODS: 20 apparently healthy adults ages 20-75 yrs with at least 3 months of yoga experience completed a one-hour Vinyasa flow yoga DVD. Seated blood pressure measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention. Augmentation index (AIx) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) were measured before and after the yoga session via applanation tonometry. AIx recordings included crude Aix, AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@75), and AIx (P2/P1). As associations between negative mood states and impaired endothelial function, a determinant of AS, mood affect was assessed via PANAS 20-item survey before and after the Vinyasa session as well. RESULTS: After completion of the yoga DVD, significant reductions in AIx, AIx@75, and AIx (P2/P1) (P\u3c0.05 for all) were observed. CfPWV (P=0.770) was unaltered. No significant changes in positive mood affect were observed; however negative mood affect significantly decreased (P\u3c0.05). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the efficacy of a single bout of hatha yoga in improving central and peripheral arterial stiffness measures and provide insight into the potential effects of yoga in mediating CVD risk. These vascular changes were accompanied by significant reductions in negative affect, which could have contributed to reductions in AS via enhanced endothelium-dependent vasodilation

Pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing : a review from VascAgeNet

Abstract: Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation

Pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing: a review from VascAgeNet

Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation