Effect of Yogic Intervention on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Cellular Aging: A Case Report Study

Objectives: Few studies showed that a brief yoga-based lifestyle intervention was effective in reducing levels of oxidative stress and cellular aging in obese men. The main objective of this case report was to assess the efcacy of yoga based life style intervention on levels of markers of cellular ageing and oxidative stress at baseline (day 0), at the end of active intervention (day 30), and follow-up at day 180. Study design: Single case report from a prospective ongoing study with pre-post design assessing the level of various markers of cellular aging and oxidative stress. Patient: A 36-year-old man with class I obesity (bodymass index [BMI], 28.5kg/m2) presented to the outpatient department of Medicine at MGMC& RI, pondicherry, India, with history of fatigue, difficulty in losing weight, difficulty to perform daily activities. Setting: After examination and appropriate investigations, including physiologic measures such as blood pressure and lipid prole, he was referred to CYTER& Department of Physiology, MGMCRI, Pondicherry, an outpatient facility conducting meditation and yoga-based lifestyle intervention programs for management of chronic diseases. Intervention: A pretested intervention program included asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), stress management, group discussions, lectures, and individualized advice Yoga intervention programs, Validated and published at CYTER. Results: The results of this case report shows that the activity of telomerase are enhanced and oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine levels are reduced from baseline (day 0) to day 180. Conclusions: yoga/meditation-based lifestyle modication causes reversal of markers of aging, mainly oxidative stress, telomerase activity, and oxidative DNA damage. This may prevent onset of several lifestyle-related diseases, of which oxidative stress and inammation are the chief cause. Study suggest that this simple lifestyle intervention practices may delay aging and prolong a youthful healthy life.