The Metabolic Syndrome and Mind-Body Therapies: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Summary of clinical studies of mind-body therapies.

References	Design, allocation concealment*	Modified score	Mean age, sample size (randomized/analyzed), condition other than metabolic syndrome	Interventions (regimen)	Main outcome measures	Main results	Comments
Paul-Labrador et al., 2006 [39]	Parallel; 2 groups; Unmasked	5	Mean age = 67.4; Sample size = 103; Coronary heart disease	Transcendental meditation versus health education for 16 weeks	Blood pressure, lipoprotein profile, insulin resistance (HOMA), endothelial function (BART), HRV, medication history, BMI, hostility, depression, trait anxiety, trait anger, stress, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, and hs-CRP	Significant difference in systolic and arterial blood pressure at exit; No difference in lipoproteins, hs-CRP, BMI, or BART; Improved glucose, insulin levels, and HRV in meditation group	Trend toward increase in physical activity in health education group; Health education group more depressed and angry at entry and exit
Khatri et al., 2007 [42]	Parallel; 2 groups; Unknown	2	Mean age = 54.01; Sample size = 101	Usual care versus usual care plus yoga for 12 weeks	BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, HDL-C	Significant improvement in waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and HDL-C in yoga group
Cohen et al., 2008 [43]	Parallel; 2 groups; Unknown	3	Mean age = 52; Sample size = 24	Restorative yoga versus control	BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, demographics, PSS, Block 2005, physical activity, SF-36, CES-D, overall health (Likert scale)	Trend toward improved blood pressure, well-being, and stress in yoga group; Nonsignificant changes in BMI in yoga group; No difference in serological measures, diet, or physical activity	Yoga group reported being “very satisfied” with intervention, felt that practicing restorative yoga “very easy” or “moderately easy”

*Classified by Cochrane criteria. HOMA: homeostasis model assessment; BART: brachial artery reactivity test; HRV: heart rate variability; BMI: body mass index; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; hs-CRP: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; PSS: Perceived Stress Scale; Block 2005: food frequency questionnaire; CES-D: Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression Scale; PSQ: Perceived Stress Questionnaire; SF-36 (measures physical and mental aspects of health).