Studies on TCM

Studies on Taijiquan and Qigong

A Glance at Taijiquan and Qigong in Metabolic Syndrome

A Glance at Taijiquan and Qigong in Metabolic Syndrome

This short report quotes a recent pilot study on the benefit of Taiijquan and Qigong in the management of the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, also known as insulin resistance syndrome, is a group of conditions that lead to increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Table 1 summarises the risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

Table 1. Indicators of the metabolic syndrome

high blood pressure

high blood sugar levels

high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood)

low levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol in your blood)

too much fat around your waist

In an initial study at the University of Queensland (Australia) 11 participants trained regularly Taijiquan and Qigong for a period of three month. The participants were 42 to 65 years old and all showed the symptoms of metabolic syndrome at the beginning of the study.

The training schedule was 1.5 hours, 3 times a week Tai Chi and Qigong practice under supervision and training at home. The Tai Chi and Qigong used in this study was specially designed to target metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes, and no general Taijiquan program.

As indicators of metabolic syndrome the body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and glucose control (haemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin and insulin resistance) were evaluated.

The outcome of the study was quite encouraging. Already after three month of training the participants showed statistically significant improvements in body mass index, waist circumference, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Smaller improvements, but also statistically significant, were observed in haemoglobinA1c, fastening insulin and insulin resistance. For details see table 1. The p value in table 1 highlights the statistic significance of the difference.

Table 2. Indicators of metabolic syndrome analysed in this study

Indicator	Mean difference (before/after)	p value
body mass index	-1.05(95% CI: -1.48, -0.63)	p<0.001
waist circumference	-2.80 cm (-4.97, -0.62)	p<0.05
Systolic blood pressure	-11.64 mm Hg (-19.46, -3.51)	p<0.01
Diastolic blood pressure	-9.73 mm Hg (-13.58, -5.88)	p<0.001
haemoglobin A1c	-0.32 % (-0.49, -0.15)	p<0.01
fasting insulin	-9.93pmol/L (-19.93, 0.07)	p = 0.051
insulin resistance	-0.53 (-0.97, -0.09)	p<0.05

A Literature Search on Taijiquan and Qigong in the Treatment of Diabetes

The same authors also reviewed on the evidence relating to the effectiveness of Qigong in the management of diabetes type 2 in a systemic literature search.

They reviewed on 69 intervention studies published in English or Chinese journals since 1980. But only 11 met the scientific criteria for inclusion. Of these studies all showed statistically significant improvements in fastening and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test results, blood glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Effects on insulin and haemoglobinA1c were inconsistent and there are no evidences on effects of body weight. Most of the analysed studies were of short duration, involved small sample numbers and did not include proper control groups. These methodological limitations make it difficult to conclude from these studies.

Coming Next

From personal communication with the author I know that there is a randomized controlled clinical trial on Taijiquan and Qigong in obesity and diabetes completed, but is currently under review, and not yet published.

References

Xin L, Miller YD, Burton NW, Brown WJ. A preliminary study of the effects of Tai Chi and Qigong medical exercise onindicators of metabolic syndrome and glycaemic control in adults with elevated blood glucose. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2008 Apr 2.

Xin L, Miller YD, Brown WJ. A qualitative review of the role of qigong in the management of diabetes. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2007 May;13(4):427-33.