Effect of IAYT on DNA damage

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effect of IAYT on extent of betterment of DNA damage in diabetic practicing Yoga. Method: Thirty participants with diabetes recruited from Arogyadhama, Holistic Health Care Home in Prashanti kutiram, at Bangalore, were checked for DNA damage before and after 7 days of IAYT intervention. Age range of participants was from 30 to 65 years. Intervention consisted of intensive residential yoga program comprising of asana (physical posture), pranayama, meditation, devotional sessions, diet modification and interactive sessions on philosophical concepts of yoga. The damage in the genomic DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assayed by single cell gel electrophoresis method following the previously described protocol of Singh et al. Analysis of the data was done using CASP and excel. Result: After one week of IAYT program, 63% of participants showed lessening in the DNA damage (decrease in post tail length) after intervention while in 37% the DNA damage increased (increase in post tail length). The percentage of decrease of tail length was significantly higher (37%, comparing the percentage of means of pre and post) than the percentage of increase of tail length (19%). The data of both positive and negative change showed normal distribution. Conclusion: DNA Damage has a direct link with defects in metabolism, non-communicable disease like diabetes and stress. There was significant reduction in the tail length of DNA and the total comet length after IAYT intervention which signifies a better improvement in the DNA damage. Whether this was achieved because of reduction in stress or through other physiological pathway is not know. Normall distribution of data shows that the damage or betterment of damage, are both not a chance occurring in this data but first of a kind report of Yoga influencing the DNA repair mechanism. Also, in this novel study we have made findings to differentiate between short and long fragment DNA damage through data analysis.