Growth hormone (GH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) secretion decline with advancing age and are associated with the symptoms of aging. Yogic texts claimed that regular practice of yoga may restore and maintain general endocrinological properties in the human body. Objective of the Study. To observe the effect of yogic training for twelve weeks on basal level of GH and DHEAS in middle aged group. Method. Forty-five untrained volunteers were divided into two groups, that is, yoga practicing (experimental: male 15, age 42.80 ± 7.43 yrs; female 8, age 44.75 ± 8.40 yrs) and waitlisted control group (male 15, age 41.67 ± 7.87 yrs; female 7, age 45.43 ± 7.00 yrs). The experimental group underwent combined yogic practices daily in the morning for 6 days/week for 12 weeks, whereas control group continued their usual routine activities. Standing height, body weight, body mass index, and basal level of GH and DHEAS were measured before commencement and after six and twelve weeks of yogic training period. The repeated measure ANOVA was used for data analysis. Results. 12 weeks of yogic training produces a significant increase in GH and DHEAS for both male and female groups as compared to their baseline data, whereas no as such changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion. Combined approach of graded yogic training may be beneficial for maintaining the basal level of GH and DHEAS in the human body, thus promoting healthy aging.

Background: Neurocognitive abilities are the brain-mind skills needed to initiate any task from the simplest to the most complex, decreases with advancing age. Attention, alertness, and memory are the basic neurocognitive functions most affected by age. There are potential benefits of yoga on neurocognitive functions because this ancient Indian technique positively nurtures the mind-body systems. Aim of the Study: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of yogic training on neurocognitive abilities in a middle-aged group. Methods: A total of 86 volunteers (46 male and 40 females, age group of 35–55 years), with no prior experience of yoga were participated in this study. Five male and 4 female participants were excluded from the study. All participants divided into yoga training group (male = 21 and female = 18) and control group (male = 20 and female = 18). The yoga training group underwent yoga practices, including kriya, surya namaskar, asana, pranayama, and dhyana daily in the morning, for 6 days/week, for 12 weeks. Standing height, body weight, body mass index, visual reaction time (RT), auditory RT (attention and alertness), and short-term memory were assessed day 1 (pre), 6 th week (mid), and 12 th weeks (post) of intervention. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that a statistically significant increased ( P < 0.05) in attention-alertness and short-term memory after 12 weeks of yogic practices. Conclusion: Integrated approach of yogic intervention may have promising effect on neurocognitive abilities that concomitantly promote successful aging.

Abstract:Background: Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is a secosteroid hormone and an essential nutrient responsible for multiple biological functions in the human body. Functionally it is different from all other fat soluble vitamins. The body can synthesis it with the help of sunlight. Objective of the Study: The specific objective of this review article is to explore the emergence of vitamin D as an important nutrient for the maintenances of optimal health and athletic performance. Acquisition of Evidence: Evidences were gathered through Pubmed searching. Studies directly matched and fulfill the primary objective of this article were considered, reviewed properly and presented systematically. Findings: Commonly Vitamin D is well recognized for its active role in calcium and phosphorous homeostasis in the human body. In recent era scientists have identified that almost every cell in the body express the vitamin D receptor, physiologically play a significant role in achieving optimal health and better athletic performance. Active from of Vitamin D plays an important role for the prevention of many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, arthritis etc. Conclusion: Vitamin D is a potent nutrient and working as a regulator of several physiological functions in the human body. Some of these functions are well recognized but many are yet to be researched to understand the complete mechanism of action as it plays in the human body.

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