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Age-related changes in cardiovascular system, autonomic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy active males: role of yogic practice

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Abstract

Aging is associated with decline in cardiovascular, autonomic function, and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). Reports are scanty regarding whether yoga can improve age-related degenerative changes in healthy active men. This study is designed to appraise the role of yoga in improving age-related degenerative changes in cardiometabolic risk profile, autonomic function, stress, and BDNF. Healthy active males of three age groups (20–29, 30–39, and 40–49 years) were randomly assigned to practice yoga daily 1 h for 3 months. Significantly higher values of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), load in heart (DoP), myocardial oxygen consumption (RPP), and total cholesterol (TC) were noted in senior age group. HR, BP, DoP, RPP, and TC decreased significantly following yogic practice. High frequency (HF), total power (TP), all time domain variables of heart rate variability (HRV), and skin conductance (SC) were significantly decreased with advancement of age. HF, TP, and time domain parameters of HRV and SC increased significantly following yogic practice. Higher levels of catecholamines and low frequency (LF) power of HRV was noted with advancement of age. Levels of catecholamines and LF significantly decreased following yogic practice. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level raised in senior age group. BDNF, serotonin, and dopamine were low in higher age group. Significant decrement of cortisol; ACTH; and increment in serotonin, dopamine, and BDNF was noted following yogic practice. This study revealed that yogic practices might help in the prevention of age-related degeneration by changing cardiometabolic risk factors, autonomic function, and BDNF in healthy male.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Director, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi, for giving the necessary permission to conduct this study. Additionally, the authors are grateful to the Director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Delhi, for the continuous support to the study. Moreover, the authors also acknowledge the support of the Project Director, CARTY for giving necessary permission, encouragement, and moral support. The authors acknowledge the support of a yoga instructor. A warm thanks is due to all volunteers who participated in the study, without whose willing and wholehearted cooperation this study would not have been possible, and, finally, to the concerned officials for providing all facilities required for a smooth conduction of the trial.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest regarding this study.

Ethical standards

All the experiments comply with the current laws of the country and approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee, DIPAS, Delhi, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Research and Training in Yoga (CARTY), Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India

    Rameswar Pal & Abhirup Chatterjee

  2. Nutrition Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India

    Som Nath Singh

  3. Work Physiology & Yoga, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India

    Mantu Saha

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  1. Rameswar Pal
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Correspondence to Mantu Saha.

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Pal, R., Singh, S.N., Chatterjee, A. et al. Age-related changes in cardiovascular system, autonomic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy active males: role of yogic practice. AGE 36, 9683 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-014-9683-7

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