Co-treatment with yoga plus camelina sativa powder improves outcomes in women with T2D

In women with type 2 diabetes (T2D), performing yoga in addition to supplementation with camelina sativa powder (CSP) delivers improvements in glycaemic indices, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, according to a study.

The study included 80 female T2D patients ages 30–55 years. These patients were randomly allocated to the following groups: placebo group, CSP group, yoga group, CSP plus yoga group.

CSP 30 g and placebo were provided in sachets and mixed with food. Participants consumed two sachets daily, one at lunch and another at dinner. The supervised yoga intervention included 24 sessions conducted over 8 weeks and held indoors at a sports club.

Glycaemic indices and inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were assessed prior to and after the intervention.

Compared with the placebo group, the CSP plus yoga group showed significant increases in the McAuley-index (p=0.021) and the Quick-index (p<0.001), in addition to substantial reductions in the glycaemic exposure index (p=0.010), fasting blood sugar (p=0.003), HbA1c (p=0.013), insulin (p=0.002), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (p<0.001).

Serum superoxide dismutase levels rose significantly across the CSP, yoga, and CSP plus yoga groups vs the placebo group (p<0.001, p=0.019, and p=0.005, respectively), whereas serum catalase levels increased only in the CSP plus yoga group vs the placebo group (p=0.022).

Malondialdehyde concentrations markedly declined in the yoga and CSP plus yoga groups vs the placebo group (p=0.017 and p<0.001, respectively). Finally, serum tumour necrosis factor-α levels significantly decreased across the CSP, yoga, and CSP plus yoga groups vs the placebo group (p<0.001, p=0.033, and p<0.001, respectively).

The findings suggest that CSP may have favourable effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in T2DM that may be enhanced by yoga.