Hot yoga increases SIRT6 gene expression, inhibits ROS generation, and improves skin condition

抄録

Accumulating evidence suggests that yoga promotes a healthy life expectancy in humans; however, the molecular basis of this effect is not clear. Moderate exercise is known to activate sirtuin family genes by improving blood circulation and prevent aging. Hot yoga might have a particularly strong benefit to activate these sirtuin family genes, because prolonged exposure to high temperatures coupled with high humidity can increase blood flow. Here, we investigated the impact of hot yoga on characteristic features of aging by assessing body composition and blood biochemistry indexes in 48 healthy female volunteers (aged 20 to 59 years) before and after completion of a hot yoga program consisting of two 60 minutes lessons per week for 12 weeks. SIRT6 expression was increased and ROS levels were decreased in volunteers after completing the hot yoga program compared with before starting. Furthermore, we demonstrated that completion of the hot yoga program increased the moisture content in the stratum corneum and elasticity and improved skin texture. These results suggest that hot yoga can have a positive impact on various features associated with aging, suggesting that it might be useful in delaying senescence.