Confronting the potential role of Yoga in the molecular profile of rural high-risk women for Diabetes: a pilot study

Background and purpose: Yoga has been shown to have established beneficial impact through many previous studies. The mind-body practices like Yoga have an ameliorating effect on diabetes and prediabetes. The majority of prior published literature focused their attention on the glucose parameters in diabetic and prediabetic pathology. The purpose of the present pilot study is to explore the effect of AYUSH-approved Diabetic Yoga Protocol (DYP) on selected angiogenesis and neurogenesis markers in high-risk rural women for Diabetes. Methods: Total 15 high-risk women for Diabetes were selected from rural area of Chandigarh, for a 3-month DYP intervention. The pre-post single group experimental research design was implemented in the study. The changes in angiogenesis, neurogenesis parameters, and leptin were assessed at baseline and after 3 months after DYP intervention. Results: The result of the present study revealed that after 3 months of DYP intervention the statistically significant improvements were noticed on serum VEGF levels (p = 0.039). The improvements in angiogenin and BDNF levels were also seen after DYP practice. Conclusion: The results highlight the potential role of DYP on cellular growth and neuronal survival. Keywords: Diabetic Yoga Protocol, Indian Diabetes Risk Score, Prediabetes, angiogenesis, neurogenesis.