Effect of Salat on Blood Sugar, Lipid Profile and Cognitive Improvement in Healthy Adults

International Journal of Medical Science

© 2017 by SSRG - IJMS Journal

Volume 4 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2017

Authors : Shafi M. Shaafi and Harish Kulkarni

10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V4I3P103

How to Cite?

Shafi M. Shaafi and Harish Kulkarni, "Effect of Salat on Blood Sugar, Lipid Profile and Cognitive Improvement in Healthy Adults," SSRG International Journal of Medical Science, vol. 4,  no. 3, pp. 12-16, 2017. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939117/IJMS-V4I3P103

Abstract:

Salat is a mindful physical activity practiced all over the world at prescribed five times a day from dawn to dusk. Salat is also called Namaz, in Indian subcontinent. It takes only a few minutes for every session of salat to perform. Salat hasbeenshowntohaveseveral health benefits if practiced over longer periods of time. In this study, we examined the effect of 12 months of Salat practice on blood sugar and lipid profile and on cognitive protection in healthy men over 50 years. Methods: After written consent of the patients and approval of the institution’s ethical committee, 100 men, age group 55 to 60 years were divided into two groups: Salat practice group (SG. N=50) and control group or (NSG. N=50). Subjects in the salat practice group were subjected to regular Salat practice for 12 months, while the control group did not participate in any salat activity or any other form of mindful physical activity (mostly sedentary professions with little physical activity). Fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein was examined before and after 12 months of salat intervention in both groups. Mini-cog test for cognitive evaluation was administered before and after the study. Results:Salat group showed a significant(p≤0.05)decreaseinfastingplasmaglucose, post-prandialbloodsugar,totalcholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in high density lipoprotein level was found in the salat group. NSG or control group showed insignificant changes in biochemical parameters and a lower mini-cog score compared to the SG group. Conclusions: Long term practice of Salat, a mindful moderate regular physical activity, may prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing hyperlipidemia and prevent diabetes by improving glycemic control and provide cognitive protection through the mindful meditative activity that may help prevent neuronal death, which in turn prevents cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s in later stages of life.

Keywords:

Salat, lipid profile, mini-cog, cognitive protection, blood sugar.

References:

[1] Socioeconomic Inequalities in Non-Communicable Diseases Prevalence in India: Disparities between Self-Reported Diagnoses and Standardized Measures Sukumar Vellakkal, S. V. Subramanian, Christopher Millett, Sanjay Basu, David Stuckler, Shah Ebrahim PLoS One. 2013; 8(7): e68219. Published online 2013 Jul 15
[2] Ferri CP, Prince M, Brayne C, Brodaty H, Fratiglioni L, Ganguli M, et al. Alzheimer's Disease International. Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Lancet. 2005; 366:2112–7
[3] Global Health. 2014 Dec 2; 10:80. The economic burden of diabetes in India: a review of the literature. Yesudian CA1, Grepstad M2, Visintin E3, Ferrario A4,5.
[4] Nepal J Epidemiol. 2016 Jun; 6(2): 557– 559.Published online 2016 Jun 30. doi: 10.3126/nje. v6i2.15160 Rising burden of Diabetes-Public Health Challenges and way out. Rakesh Kakkar corresponding author 1
[5] Yang K, Bernardo LM, Sereika SM, Conroy MB, Balk J, et al. (2011) Utilization of 3-month program for adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes: a pilot study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011: 257891.
[6] Mooradian AD (2009) Dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nat ClinPractEndocrinolMetab 5: 150-159.
[7] Richard Kones Drug des Devel Ther. 2011; 5: 325– 380. Published online 2011 Jun 13. [8] Emerging Risk Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders Ravi Kant Upadhyay J Lipids. 2015; 2015: 971453. Published online 2015 Apr 8.
[9] Calderon R Jr, Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Myers HF, Nidich SI, et al. (1999) Stress, stress reduction and hypercholesterolemia in African Americans: a review. Ethn Dis 9: 451-462.
[10] Biochem Pharmacol. 2014 Apr 15;88(4):640-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.12.024. Epub 2014 Jan 4. Alzheimer disease: epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, risk factors and biomarkers. Reitz C1, Mayeux R2.
[11] Online J Issues Nurs. 2015 Dec 21;21(1):12. Cochrane Review Brief: Mini-Cog for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia and Other Dementias within a Community Setting. Neville Ch
[12] Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jan;55(Suppl 2): S224-30. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.105537. The Islamic prayer (Salah/Namaaz) and yoga togetherness in mental health. Sayeed SA1, Prakash A.
[13] Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Jan; 1307:89-103. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12348.The potential effects of meditation on age-related cognitive decline: a systematic review. Gard T1, Hölzel BK, Lazar SW.
[14] Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIÉ): qualitative analysis of a clinical trial in older adults with dementia.Wu E, Barnes DE, Ackerman SL, Lee J, Chesney M, Mehling WE. Aging Ment Health. 2015;19(4):353-62.
[15] Meditation and coronary heart disease: a review of the current clinical evidence. Ray IB, Menezes AR, Malur P, Hiltbold AE, Reilly JP, Lavie CJ, Ochsner J. 2014 Winter;14(4):696-703. Review.
[16] The effect of Ramadan fasting on glycaemic control in insulin dependent diabetic patients: A literature review. Alabbood MH, Ho KW, Simons MR. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2017 Jan - Mar;11(1):83-87. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2016.06.028. Review.
[17] Gordon LA, Morrison EY, Mc Growder DA, Young R, Fraser YT, et al. (2008) Effect of exercise therapy on lipid profile and oxidative stress indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes. BMC Complement Altern Med 8: 21.
[18] Aljasir B, Bryson M, Al-Shehri B (2010) Practice for the Management of Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Adults: A systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 7: 399-408.
[19] Sahay BK (2007) Role of in diabetes. J Assoc Physicians India 55: 121- 126.
[20] Bijlani RL, Vempati RP, Yadav RK, Ray KB, Gupta V, et al. (2005) A brief but comprehensive lifestyle education program based on reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. J Altern Complement Med 11: 267-274
[21] Ten ways meditation may prevent cognitive decline: A research summary Dharma Khalsa Dharma Khalsa Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, Tucson, Arizona, United States P3-260
[22] Long-term practice of Salat prevents Alzheimer's disease in humans: Original study Shafi Shaafi, Harish Kulkarni. Alzheimer’s and dementia: A Journal of Alzheimer’s Association P3-284, July 2012 Volume 8, Issue 4, Supplement, Page P559.