Effect of yoga with and without elastic band resistance training on visfatin, liver enzymes and body composition in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Insufficient evidence supports yoga as an effective intervention in menopausal age. Simultaneously, there is insufficient information on the effect of resistance training with elastic band in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of yoga with and without elastic band resistance training on levels of visfatin, liver enzymes and body composition in postmenopausal women. In a quasi-experimental study, thirty-three postmenopausal women voluntarily participated in the study and were randomly divided into three 12-subject groups: (only yoga (YO), yoga + elastic band resistance training (YEB) and control (C)). The eight-week training period consisted of three non-consecutive sessions per week. The YO group performed only yoga training and the YEB group performed yoga and elastic band resistance training. Each training session consisted of warm-up (5 min), main exercise (30-40 min in YO group and 50-60 min in YEB group), and cool-down (5 min). Group C received no exercise intervention. General characteristics, visfatin, liver enzymes and body composition were measured before and after the training period. To analyse the data, repeated measure ANOVA was used at the significant level of P<0.05. Eight weeks of yoga with and without elastic band resistance training has no significant effects on visfatin (P=0.133), alanine transaminase (P=0.854), aspartate transaminase (P=0.782), body weight (P=0.373), body mass index (P=0.371), body fat percentage (P=0.687), and waist to hip ratio (P S>0.05). Practicing yoga with and without elastic band resistance training for eight weeks (three days a week) does not lead to positive or negative changes in visfatin levels, liver enzymes, and body composition indices in postmenopausal women. Further research with greater training volumes or longer duration trainings seems necessary.