Five-week yin yoga-based interventions decreased plasma adrenomedullin and increased psychological health in stressed adults: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a five-week yoga intervention, including mindfulness practice, reduces adrenomedullin (ADM) levels and improves psychological health in stressed middle-aged adults.
Results Summary
Both yoga interventions significantly reduced plasma ADM levels, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to the control group. The combined yoga and mindfulness group (YOMI) also showed greater reductions in stress and depression.
Population
Middle-aged adults (mean age 53.5, 78% women) who self-reported moderate to high stress but had no physical complaints.
Effective Dosage
Five-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed in abstract).
Duration
Five weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
five-week Yin yoga intervention | decrease | plasma ADM levels | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #1 |
five-week Yin yoga intervention | decrease | anxiety | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #2 |
five-week Yin yoga intervention | decrease | sleep problems | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #3 |
five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (YOMI program) | decrease | plasma ADM levels | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #4 |
five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (YOMI program) | decrease | anxiety | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #5 |
five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (YOMI program) | decrease | sleep problems | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | significantly greater pre-post reductions | #6 |
five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (YOMI program) | decrease | stress | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | exclusively showed significantly greater pre-post reductions | #7 |
five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (YOMI program) | decrease | depression | middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints | - | exclusively showed significantly greater pre-post reductions | #8 |
- | decrease | ADM and anxiety symptoms | entire sample | - | significant correlations were found between pre-post reductions | #9 |
- | decrease | ADM and depression | entire sample | - | significant correlations were found between pre-post reductions | #10 |
BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs, e.g. cardiovascular disease) are responsible for high rates of morbidity and the majority of premature deaths worldwide. It is necessary to develop preventative interventions that can reduce the associated risk factors of NCDs. Researchers have found that the biomarker adrenomedullin (ADM) becomes elevated years before the onset of NCDs and might play an important role in their development. ADM has also been linked to psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression, which are known risk factors of NCDs. In this randomized controlled trial, we examined whether participating in a five-week yoga intervention reduces ADM and increases psychological health in middle-aged adults who self-report as moderately to highly stressed, but who otherwise exhibit no physical complaints. METHODS: One hundred and five adults (78% women; mean age = 53.5, SD = 6.7) were randomly assigned to (1) a five-week Yin yoga intervention, (2) a five-week intervention combining Yin yoga with psychoeducation and mindfulness practice (called the YOMI program), or (3) a control group who did not practice yoga or mindfulness for five weeks. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, we observed significantly greater pre-post reductions in plasma ADM levels (p < .001), anxiety (p ≤ .002), and sleep problems (p ≤ .003) in both intervention groups. Furthermore, the YOMI group exclusively showed significantly greater pre-post reductions in stress (p = .012) and depression (p = .021) compared to the control group. Significant correlations (p < .05) were found between pre-post reductions in ADM and anxiety symptoms (p = .02) and depression (p = .04) in the entire sample. CONCLUSION: The five-week Yin yoga-based interventions appeared to reduce both the physiological and psychological risk factors known to be associated with NCDs. The study suggests that incorporating Yin yoga could be an easy and low-cost method of limiting the negative health effects associated with high stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03428542.