Integral Health and Wellness Clinic, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
J Integr Complement Med. 2022 Feb;28(2):168-178. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2021.0215. Epub 2022 Jan 11.
Telomeres and telomerase are considered cardinal biomarkers of cellular aging. Shorter telomeres and low telomerase activity have been associated with obesity and accelerated aging. To compare the effects of a yoga-based lifestyle intervention (YBLI) with the standard of care (SOC) on cellular aging by estimating telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity in obesity. A parallel, two-arm, randomized-controlled trial was conducted at the Integral Health Clinic, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from March 2017 to October 2019. Obese ( = 72), body mass index (BMI), 25-35 kg/m, aged 20-45 years, male (21), and female (51). Seventy-two obese participants were randomized to receive either a 12-week SOC ( = 36) or YBLI ( = 36). SOC included management of obesity as per Indian guidelines including a hypocaloric individualized diet and physical activity. The pretested YBLI included (physical postures), (breathing exercises), and meditation. Blood samples were collected from both the groups at baseline, 2, 4, and 12 weeks. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TL was measured by quantitative PCR, and serum telomerase levels by immunoassay. Primary outcome measures were the changes in the TL and telomerase levels between the two groups at week 12. Secondary outcome measures were the changes in TL and telomerase, and anthropometric parameters (body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio) at 2, 4, and 12 weeks of intervention in both SOC and YBLI groups. There were no significant changes in TL and telomerase levels between the groups at week 12. The TL was significantly greater in the YBLI group versus the SOC group ( < 0.0001) at 2 weeks. The anthropometric and physiological parameters were influenced positively by both SOC and YBLI. The study did not meet the primary objective, although the results are suggestive of a positive impact of YBLI on aging in obesity as noted within the YBLI group. However, the results should be interpreted carefully, and in the light of other published data. Larger studies to better understand the possible positive benefits of YBLI on cellular aging are recommended. Clinical Trail Registration No. CTRI/2016/08/007136.
端粒和端粒酶被认为是细胞衰老的重要生物标志物。较短的端粒和较低的端粒酶活性与肥胖和加速衰老有关。本研究旨在比较基于瑜伽的生活方式干预（YBLI）与标准护理（SOC）对肥胖患者细胞衰老的影响，通过估计端粒长度（TL）和端粒酶活性来评估。这是一项在印度新德里全印度医学科学研究所生理学系综合健康诊所进行的平行、双臂、随机对照试验。该研究于 2017 年 3 月至 2019 年 10 月进行。参与者为肥胖患者（ = 72），体重指数（BMI）为 25-35kg/m，年龄 20-45 岁，男性（21 人）和女性（51 人）。72 名肥胖参与者被随机分为 SOC 组（ = 36）或 YBLI 组（ = 36）。SOC 组包括根据印度指南对肥胖进行管理，包括低热量个体化饮食和体育活动。经过预测试的 YBLI 包括 （体式）、（呼吸练习）和冥想。两组均在基线、2、4 和 12 周时采集血样。从外周血单核细胞中提取 DNA。通过定量 PCR 测量 TL，通过免疫测定法测量血清端粒酶水平。主要观察指标是两组在第 12 周时 TL 和端粒酶水平的变化。次要观察指标是 SOC 和 YBLI 两组在干预 2、4 和 12 周时 TL 和端粒酶以及人体测量参数（体重、BMI、腰臀比）的变化。第 12 周时两组间 TL 和端粒酶水平无显著差异。YBLI 组 TL 显著大于 SOC 组（ < 0.0001），在 2 周时。SOC 和 YBLI 均对人体测量和生理参数产生积极影响。本研究未达到主要目标，但结果提示 YBLI 对肥胖患者衰老具有积极影响，YBLI 组尤为明显。然而，应仔细解释这些结果，并结合已发表的数据进行解释。建议进行更大规模的研究，以更好地了解 YBLI 对细胞衰老的潜在积极益处。临床试验注册号 CTRI/2016/08/007136。
