Health Insights Today
January/February 2012, Volume 5, Number 1
CAM in Review
(pdf) When reading reports on new research, it is important to remember that no single study should be seen as providing the whole truth. The following reports offer helpful clues but in most cases further research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Yoga Practices Lower Heart Disease Risk Factors
Pal A, Srivastava N, Tiwari S, et al. Effect of yogic practices on lipid profile and body fat composition in patients of coronary artery disease. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2011;19(3):122-127.
Objectives: To observe the effect of regular yogic practices and self-discipline in reducing body fat and elevated lipids in CAD patients. Method: In this study one hundred seventy (170) subjects, of both sexes having coronary artery disease were randomly selected form Department of Cardiology. Subjects were divided in to two groups randomly in yoga group and in non-yoga group, eighty five (85) in each group. Out of these (170 subjects), one hundred fifty four (154) completed the study protocol. Time line: The yogic intervention consisted of 35-40 min/day, five days in a week till six months in the Department of Physiology CSMMU UP Lucknow. Body fat testing and estimation of lipid profile were done of the both groups at zero time and after six months of yogic intervention in yoga group and without yogic intervention in non yoga group. Results: In present study, BMI (p < 0.04), fat % (p < 0.0002), fat free mass (p < 0.04), SBP (p < 0.002), DBP (p < 0.009), heart rate (p < 0.0001), total cholesterol (p < 0.0001), triglycerides (p < 0.0001), HDL (p < 0.0001) and low density lipoprotein (p < 0.04) were changed significantly. Conclusion: Reduction of SBP, DBP, heart rate, body fat%, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL after regular yogic practices is beneficial for cardiac and hypertensive patients. Therefore yogic practices included in this study are helpful for the patients of coronary artery disease.
Diaphragmatic Breathing Eases Oxidative Stress, a Diabetes Risk Factor
Martarelli D, Cocchioni M, Scuri S, Pompei P. Diaphragmatic breathing reduces postprandial oxidative stress. J Altern Complement Med. Jul 2011;17(7):623-628.
OBJECTIVES: A number of studies suggest that postprandial hyperglycemia produces oxidative stress, leading to complications associated with diabetes. However, hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress may affect groups of people other than diabetics, such as smokers and athletes with specific diet plans. Based on previous reports that seated breathing meditation reduces hyperglycemia, the present study was designed to determine the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on postprandial plasma glycemia, insulin, oxidative stress, and antioxidant levels in athletes with normal glucose metabolism. DESIGN: Data collected before and after consumption of a 900-calorie breakfast composed of 80% carbohydrates, 10% proteins, and 10% lipids were analyzed. Ten (10) minutes after the meal, 8 subjects spent 40 minutes performing diaphragmatic breathing in a quiet place. The other 8 subjects, representing the control group, spent the same time sitting in an equivalent quiet place reading a magazine. SUBJECTS: Data from 16 amateur male cyclists age 30.12+/-4.9 years (+/-SD) were analyzed. Their mean height and weight were 177.81+/-5.3 cm and 71.40+/-5.2 kg, respectively. All subjects underwent a physical examination and were determined to be in good health. OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood samples were collected immediately before the meal as well as 1 hour and 2 hours after the meal, and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, reactive oxygen metabolites, and biologic antioxidant potential were determined. Heart rate was also recorded. RESULTS: Results show that in normal subjects, acute hyperglycemia induces free-radical production while reducing the antioxidant levels (p<0.05). Diaphragmatic breathing reduces heart rates (p<0.01), increases insulin (p<0.05), reduces glycemia (p<0.01), and reduces free-radical production as indicated by the higher antioxidants levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic breathing, likely through the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, increases insulin, reduces glycemia, and reduces reactive oxygen species production.
Research Review on Homeopathy for Psychiatric Conditions: Efficacy for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, Not for Anxiety or Stress
Davidson JR, Crawford C, Ives JA, Jonas WB. Homeopathic treatments in psychiatry: a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled studies. J Clin Psychiatry. Jun 2011;72(6):795-805.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review placebo-controlled randomized trials of homeopathy for psychiatric conditions. DATA SOURCES: Eligible studies were identified using the following databases from database inception to April 2010: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Hom-Inform, Cochrane CENTRAL, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine grantee publications database, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Gray literature was also searched using Google, Google Scholar, the European Committee for Homeopathy, inquiries with homeopathic experts and manufacturers, and the bibliographic lists of included published studies and reviews. Search terms were as follows: (homeopath* or homoeopath*) and (placebo or sham) and (anxiety or panic or phobia or post-traumatic stress or PTSD or obsessive-compulsive disorder or fear or depression or dysthymia or attention deficit hyperactivity or premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual disorder or premenstrual dysphoric disorder or traumatic brain injury or fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalitis or insomnia or sleep disturbance). Searches included only English-language literature that reported randomized controlled trials in humans. STUDY SELECTION: Trials were included if they met 7 criteria and were assessed for possible bias using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 50 guidelines. Overall assessments were made using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation procedure. Identified studies were grouped into anxiety or stress, sleep or circadian rhythm complaints, premenstrual problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mild traumatic brain injury, and functional somatic syndromes. RESULTS: Twenty-five eligible studies were identified from an initial pool of 1,431. Study quality according to SIGN 50 criteria varied, with 6 assessed as good, 9 as fair, and 10 as poor. Outcome was unrelated to SIGN quality. Effect size could be calculated in 16 studies, and number needed to treat, in 10 studies. Efficacy was found for the functional somatic syndromes group (fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome), but not for anxiety or stress. For other disorders, homeopathy produced mixed effects. No placebo-controlled studies of depression were identified. Meaningful safety data were lacking in the reports, but the superficial findings suggested good tolerability of homeopathy. A funnel plot in 13 studies did not support publication bias (chi(2)(1) = 1.923, P = .166). CONCLUSIONS: The database on studies of homeopathy and placebo in psychiatry is very limited, but results do not preclude the possibility of some benefit.