Yoga Techniques Associated with Improved Insulin Resistance in Women with PCOS: A Pilot Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex heterogenic disease of unknown etiology, is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Sufferers often exhibit significant insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, obesity, and dyslipidemia. There is no cure for PCOS, although metformin and weight reduction have shown some benefits. Yoga has become increasingly popular for its beneficial effects, including on physiological functions such as carbohydrate metabolism and lipid profile. We aimed to explore the potential associations between yoga practices and insulin resistance in women with PCOS. Thirty-five newly diagnosed women with PCOS were enrolled in the study, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was performed on blood samples. Participants were then advised on yoga practices comprising kriya, postures and breathwork for 6 days a week for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, HOMA-IR was repeated. Results were compared using the Wilcoxon ranked-sum test. Our study showed a decrease in mean body weight from 64.90 ± 1.95 kg to 61.53 ± 1.71 kg (p = 0.001), in mean BMI from 25.66 ± 0.65 kg/m2 to 24.33 ± 0.56 kg/m2 (p = 0.001), in fasting blood sugar from 95.73 ± 3.23 mg/dL to 91.83 ± 2.17 mg/dL (p = 0.007), in fasting insulin from 14.89 ± 1.47 μU/mL to 11.47 ± 1.06 μU/mL (p = 0.0001), and in HOMA-IR from 3.76 ± 0.50 to 2.72 ± 0.32 (p = 0.0001). Yoga techniques were associated with improvements in insulin resistance in women with PCOS.