Cholesterol

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: A meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of yoga in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched to obtain eligible randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was fasting blood glucose, and the secondary outcomes included glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and postprandial blood glucose. Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Yoga, a form of physical activity, is rapidly gaining in popularity and has many health benefits. Yet healthcare providers have been slow to recognize yoga for its ability to improve health conditions, and few interventions have been developed that take full advantage of its benefits. The purpose of this article is to review published studies using yoga programs and to determine the effect of yoga interventions on common risk factors of chronic diseases (overweight, hypertension, high glucose level and high cholesterol).

BACKGROUND: A sedentary lifestyle and stress are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since yoga involves exercise and is thought to help in stress reduction it may be an effective strategy in the primary prevention of CVD. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of any type of yoga on the primary prevention of CVD.

Pumpan in a dosage of 3 x 10 drops daily over 6 weeks does not differ in its effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly from placebo. The tolerance was excellent: not one single patient had to be withdrawn from the study due to side effects. Blood lipids (cholesterol, HDL-, LDL-cholesterol and triglyzerides) did not change, neither in the placebo nor in the verum group.

Four groups of 25 rabbits each, were studied to determine the effect of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Amla (Emblica officinalis) and Bahira (Terminalia belerica) on cholesterol-induced hypercholesteolaemia and atherosclerosis. The control group was fed with cholesterol alone; the Haritaki group received Haritaki and cholesterol; the Bahira group received Bahira and cholesterol; and the Amla group received Amla and cholesterol for 16 weeks.

The effect of orally administered indigenous drugs Terminalia arjuna, T. belerica and T. chebula were investigated on experimental atherosclerosis. Rabbits were fed a cholesterol-rich diet to induce atherosclerosis. The three drugs were fed along with cholesterol. At the end of the experimental period the animals were killed and their plasma and tissue lipid components estimated. Atherosclerotic lesions of the aorta were examined histologically. T. arjuna was found to be the most potent hypolipidemic agent and induced partial inhibition of rabbit atheroma. The results indicate that T.

Cholesterol fed mice were administered powdered myrobalan, the fruit of Terminalia chebula, to evaluate its antiatherogenic activity. Male mice were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol with or without myrobalan for 100 days. The cholesterol containing diet fed to mice caused increased food intake, body weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, thickening of the walls of aorta and shrinkage in its lumen (group 2) . The oral administration of myrobalan to mice on atherogenic diet successfully reversed these effect (group 3).

Hypercholesteremia is one of the risk factors for coronary artery disease. The present study highlights the efficacy of Ayurvedic herbal formulation Triphala (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, and Emblica officinalis) on total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein (LDL), Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), High density lipoprotein (HDL) and free fatty acid in experimentally induced hypercholesteremic rats.

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) family Combretaceae is an important plant used traditionally for medicinal purposes. It is component of the classic Ayurvedic combination called "Triphala". Hyperlipidemia was induced by treated orally with atherogemc diet. In atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemic model, the rats receiving treatment with Haritaki showed significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein and elevation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Haritaki was found to possess significant hypolipidemic activity.

CONTEXT: In India, vaidyas (Ayurvedic physicians) traditionally administer triphala and its constituents as therapeutic agents for promoting digestion and satiety. OBJECTIVE: The research team performed the present study to investigate the effects of triphala and its constituents (T bellirica [bibhitaki], T chebula [haritaki], and E officinalis [amalaki]) on the dietary induction of obesity (diet-induced obesity [DIO]), and other symptoms of visceral obesity syndrome, in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD).