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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Apr;21(4):339-46.
doi: 10.1097/GME.0b013e31829e4baa.

Efficacy of yoga for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Katherine M Newton  1 , Susan D Reed, Katherine A Guthrie, Karen J Sherman, Cathryn Booth-LaForce, Bette Caan, Barbara Sternfeld, Janet S Carpenter, Lee A Learman, Ellen W Freeman, Lee S Cohen, Hadine Joffe, Garnet L Anderson, Joseph C Larson, Julie R Hunt, Kristine E Ensrud, Andrea Z LaCroix
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy of yoga for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Katherine M Newton et al. Menopause. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the efficacy of yoga in alleviating vasomotor symptoms (VMS) frequency and bother.

Methods: This study was a three-by-two factorial, randomized controlled trial. Eligible women were randomized to yoga (n = 107), exercise (n = 106), or usual activity (n = 142), and were simultaneously randomized to a double-blind comparison of ω-3 fatty acid (n = 177) or placebo (n = 178) capsules. Yoga intervention consisted of 12 weekly 90-minute yoga classes with daily home practice. Primary outcomes were VMS frequency and bother assessed by daily diaries at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index) at baseline and 12 weeks.

Results: Among 249 randomized women, 237 (95%) completed 12-week assessments. The mean baseline VMS frequency was 7.4 per day (95% CI, 6.6 to 8.1) in the yoga group and 8.0 per day (95% CI, 7.3 to 8.7) in the usual activity group. Intent-to-treat analyses included all participants with response data (n = 237). There was no difference between intervention groups in the change in VMS frequency from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks (mean difference [yoga--usual activity] from baseline at 6 wk, -0.3 [95% CI, -1.1 to 0.5]; mean difference [yoga--usual activity] from baseline at 12 wk, -0.3 [95% CI, -1.2 to 0.6]; P = 0.119 across both time points). Results were similar for VMS bother. At week 12, yoga was associated with an improvement in insomnia symptoms (mean difference [yoga - usual activity] in the change in Insomnia Severity Index, 1.3 [95% CI, -2.5 to -0.1]; P = 0.007).

Conclusions: Among healthy women, 12 weeks of yoga class plus home practice, compared with usual activity, do not improve VMS frequency or bother but reduce insomnia symptoms.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01178892.

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Conflict of interest statement

COI/FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES:

Dr. Newton received research support from Integrated Diagnostics Inc. Dr. Learman is a consultant on a Data Monitoring Committee for Ariosa Diagnostics. Dr. Freeman has received research support from Forest Laboratories, Inc., and Bionovo, Inc. Dr. Cohen has been a consultant for Noven pharmaceutical, and has received research support from: Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Cephalon, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Ortho-McNeil Janssen; Pfizer Inc.; and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Joffe has received grant support from Cephalon/Teva, is on the advisory board for Noven, and has done consulting for Sunovion. Dr. Ensrud is a consultant on a Data Monitoring Committee for Merck, Sharp & Dohme. Dr. All other authors have no direct conflicts of interest or financial disclosures relevant to this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant recruitment
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vasomotor symptom frequency over time by intervention arm, presented as mean +/− standard error at baseline, week 6, and week 12.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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