The Effect of Bikram Yoga on Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Function in Middle-Aged Adults

NCT02488148 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2012-12-0043
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 81
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction are correlates of advancing age contributing to the decline in cardioprotection with age. Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease and predict future cardiac events. Vascular function has long been a target for lifestyle interventions with several studies showing improvements traditional exercise modes. However, the impact of yoga on vascular function remains elusive. This study will determine the effect of a 12-week Bikram yoga intervention on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in healthy, middle-aged adults. The overall aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of Bikram yoga in improving vascular endothelial function and arterial distensibility in middle-aged adults with risk factors for coronary artery disease and to determine whether the heated environment plays a role in mediating these alterations in vascular function. The investigators propose to conduct a 12-week Bikram yoga intervention study in sedentary individuals in order to test the following hypotheses:

1. 1.Bikram yoga will elicit reductions in arterial stiffness and enhancements in endothelial function in sedentary, middle-aged adults.
2. 2.The postulated effects of Bikram yoga will be greater when practiced in a heated environment.

Conditions

Aging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation

  Endothelial function will be measured non-invasively via flow-mediated dilation at baseline and after 12 weeks. This technique involves ultrasound imaging of the upper arm to obtain an image of the brachial artery. Once baseline images are acquired, a cuff placed around the forearm will be inflated for 5 minutes. More images will be acquired after the cuff is deflated and the images will be analyzed to determine the percent change in arterial diameter from baseline.

  12 weeks

• Arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity)

  Arterial stiffness will be measured using pulse wave velocity at baseline and 12 weeks. Tonometric sensors will be placed on the carotid and femoral pulse sites and blood pressure cuffs places on the arms and ankles to determine brachial and tibial arterial blood pressure. The distance between the carotid and femoral pulse sites will be measured and pulse wave velocity will be determined as distance traveled divided by the time between the initiation of the carotid and femoral pulses.

  12 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Hot yoga

EXPERIMENTAL

3 hot yoga classes per week to be completed at local studios in Austin, TX.

Behavioral: Hot yoga

Non-heated yoga

EXPERIMENTAL

3 yoga classes to be completed at local studios in Austin, TX.

Behavioral: Non-heated yoga

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Maintain usual activities for the 12-week duration of the study.

Interventions

Hot yoga BEHAVIORAL

Subjects in the two intervention groups will complete the standard 26-posture Bikram yoga series in a studio heated at 41ºC (traditional environment) or in a studio at a room temperature of 22ºC whereas control group subjects will be instructed to maintain physical activity patterns for the 12-week study duration. Yoga classes will be held at the Pure Bikram Yoga downtown Austin location. Classes will be completed 3 times weekly for 12 weeks and consist of 90 minutes of yoga postures and breathing exercises.

Also known as: Bikram yoga

Hot yoga

Non-heated yoga BEHAVIORAL

Subjects in the two intervention groups will complete the standard 26-posture Bikram yoga series in a studio heated at 41ºC (traditional environment) or in a studio at a room temperature of 22ºC whereas control group subjects will be instructed to maintain physical activity patterns for the 12-week study duration. Yoga classes will be held at the Pure Bikram Yoga downtown Austin location. Classes will be completed 3 times weekly for 12 weeks and consist of 90 minutes of yoga postures and breathing exercises.

Non-heated yoga

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• A total of 80 sedentary (\<2 days of physical activity weekly) male and female adults between the ages of 40 and 60 years will be recruited and studied.

You may not qualify if:

• pregnancy (if the subject is unsure about her status, a simple testing kit will be made available to the subject)
• Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure \>160/100 mmHg while on hypertensive medications)
• Infection within the previous 4 weeks
• Having adrenal or endocrine tumors
• Renal disease
• Prior myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Known coronary artery disease
• Personal history of stroke
• Heart failure
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Personal history of psychosis
• Diabetes
• Having a body mass index ≥35 kg/m2
• Recent chest pain or dyspnea

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas at Austin: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cardiovascular Aging Research Laboratory

Austin, Texas, 78712, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Stacy Hunter, PhD

  University of Texas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: University Affiliate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2015
• First Posted: July 2, 2015
• Study Start: September 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2016
• Study Completion: December 30, 2016
• Last Updated: October 12, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-10

Locations

US (1)