A comparative study on the efficacy of pranayama and dietary restriction on altered body mass index and thyroid-stimulating hormone in middle-aged women with subclinical hypothyroidism

Abstract

Background: Among the various thyroidrelated diseases hypothyroidism, is one of the prevalent thyroid disorders, which is more common in women than in men. The prevalence among the general population ranges between 0.2% and 5.3% in Europe and 0.3% and 3.7% in the USA. Aim and Objectives: Therefore, the current study was designed and carried out to determine the efficacy of yoga on the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism with reference to lipid profiles of women suffering from hypothyroidism. Materials and Methods: The recruited subjects were randomly assigned into three groups namely: Group 1: Control group (15 patients) did not instruct to follow any intervention; Group 2: Patients were trained and instructed to follow the yogic practice 60 min a day, 6 days/week for 8 weeks; and Group 3: Patients were instructed to follow the dietary restriction for the same 8week period. Body mass index (BMI) of the study subjects and the blood thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) levels were assessed before and after the intervention periods. Results: The results observed in the current study; it can be concluded that our study findings are in line with the theme that a decrease in the levels of TSH, along BMI with are showing the evidence of decreased severity of hypothyroidism in patients under the interventions with more specific to the yogic intervention than the dietary intervention. Conclusion: It can be concluded that our study findings are in line with the theme that decrease in the BMI along with the levels of TSH are showing the evidence of decreased severity of hypothyroidism in patients under the interventions with more specific to the yogic intervention than the dietary intervention.