Effect of a yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyle intervention with nine-month follow-up on lipid profile in patients with hypertension: A two-arms parallel group randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Hypertension is recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, alongside dyslipidemia. Studies have revealed that between 15% to 31% of individuals have both hypertension and dyslipidemia. However, emerging evidence suggests that natural therapies and yoga can help manage mild increases in blood pressure. This study aims to evaluate the impact of yogic and naturopathy treatments on lipid profiles in hypertensive patients, thereby contributing to the existing literature.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled experiment was conducted, involving 262 hypertensive patients randomly assigned to either the study group (SG) or control group (CG). The SG, consisting of 131 individuals, received yoga and naturopathic treatments for 10 days, while the CG (n=131) did not. The lipid profile was measured at the beginning and end of the 10 days and they were followed-up and reassessed after 9 months.

Results: The study involved a total of 262 individuals, with 111 in the SG and 125 in the CG. After the 10-day intervention period, the SG showed significant reductions in Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), Very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL), Apolipoprotein-A (Apo-A), Apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B), and Lipoprotein-A(Lp-A) (p<0.001) compared to the CG. Also, the change was observed after 9 months in Apo-A, Apo-B, and Lp-A significantly (p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings underscore the potential of naturopathic and yogic interventions in improving lipid profiles in hypertensive patients, thereby contributing to the current literature. In conjunction with conventional management, these specific interventions could be considered as a safer form of complementary therapy in the treatment of dyslipidemia among hypertensive patients. Thus, these findings hold promise for the integration of naturopathic and yogic therapies in the standard care of hypertensive patients.