Role of oxidative stress and inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus-effect of interventions

This study, an open comparative clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of lifestyle interventions like yoga, diaphragmatic breathing exercise and diet rich in antioxidants in addition to standard care on oxidative stress and inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus when compared to standard care only. A total of 238 type 2 diabetes patients were grouped as 60 for yoga, 58 for diaphragmatic breathing, 57 for diet rich in antioxidants and 63 for standard care. 3 months of yoga and diaphragmatic breathing significantly improved BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), glycemic control, malondialdehyde, glutathione, vitamin C and CRP levels in diabetics when compared to standard care. The present study also showed that consumption of diet rich in antioxidants in type 2 diabetes result in a significant improvement in WHR, glycemic control, malondialdehyde, glutathione, vitamin C and CRP levels when compared to standard care. There was no change in BMI at the end of dietary intervention. While with diaphragmatic breathing exercise there was a significant reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, both yoga and dietary intervention had no effect on SOD levels. All these interventions did not show any effect on waist circumference, BP and vitamin E levels in type 2 diabetes. Thus interventions like yoga, diaphragmatic breathing and diet rich in antioxidants can be employed as effective therapies in reducing the oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes. Due to marginal improvement in BMI, WHR and glycemic control, these interventions can be employed as add-on therapies to standard care in the management of diabetes.