Deciphering the Clinico-Biochemical Mileau of Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal women with a note on beneficial effects of Yoga and Exercise

Psychosomatic disturbances faced by women approaching their fifth decade have been a matter of concern since many years. Many approaches have been tried to help them, including nutritional, pharmacologic and hormone replacement therapies. However, the importance of regular yoga practice is not much debated though it is believed to improve blood glucose levels & serum lipid concentrations and also to combat oxidative stress. The current study was designed to broadly analyze the clinico-biochemical challenges encountered by such women and to suggest better measures to face them.

A total of 90 women aged around 40–60 years were grouped into perimenopausal, postmenopausal and healthy control groups and were checked for anthoropometric and biochemical parameters like FBS, HbA1c, lipid profile, calcium, magnesium, copper, ceruloplasmin, TSH, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total proteins.

Age of the subjects, their BMI, blood pressure and waist hip ratio (WHR) together with levels of glycated Hb, LDL cholesterol, TGs, calcium, magnesium, copper, ceruloplasmin and uric acid levels exhibited significant variation among the groups.

Several psychosomatic changes encountered in and around menopause and few biochemical changes can be better handled by persistent yoga practice, either alone or in combination with conventional treatment, as it can effectively bring down the oxidative stress levels, chances of developing metabolic syndrome, risk of CVD events and improve the quality of life in such women.