A randomized controlled trial of Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with prediabetes

Abstract

To investigate the effectiveness of long-term Baduanjin and aerobic training on the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in prediabetic patients. This study was single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 98 participants with prediabetes were randomly divided into three groups: the BDJ (n = 34), AT (n = 32), and control (n = 32) groups. Participants in the BDJ and AT groups underwent one year of supervised group exercise, consisting of 60 min/session every other day. The primary outcomes were metabolic control and the 10-year risk of ASCVD. The secondary outcome was a change in blood glucose status. After the intervention, various metabolic indexes were significantly improved in the two exercise groups relative to the control group and baseline measurements (p < 0.05). Compared with no exercise, BDJ and AT had significant preventive and protective effects against the risk of ASCVD in patients with prediabetes (p < 0.001). The overall effects of the two exercise groups were similar (p > 0.05). Long-term BDJ training can effectively reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its cardiovascular complications in prediabetic patients. The effect of BDJ is similar to that of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Traditional Chinese Exercises for Cardiovascular Diseases: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Additionally, the terms Baduanjin exercise and breathing exercise were a common keyword burst. Baduanjin can improve the exercise ability and quality of life of patients with CVD (Jin et al, 2022; Ma et al, 2022; Yang et al, 2022). Meanwhile, compared with Tai Chi, Baduanjin requires less effort, and is easy to learn (Yuen et al, 2021).…”

Non-drug interventions of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing type 2 diabetes: a review

“…Furthermore, in a randomized clinical trial including 328 patients aged 60 and above with type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment, the Tai Chi Chuan group had higher Montreal cognitive assessment scores compared with the control group and the fitness walking group at 36 weeks, suggesting its potential to prevent cognitive impairment and exacerbation in senile patients with type 2 diabetes [81]. These three recent clinical trials all manifested that adverse events unrelated to the studies did not have statistically significant differences between the TCM exercises group and the other group [79][80][81].…”

“…A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of engagement in Baduanjin for prediabetes patients. The results showed that a year of Baduanjin training improved blood glucose, blood lipid profile, body shape and blood pressure and protected against diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease of these participants significantly [79]. Besides, Yijinjing combined with elastic band exercise, reducing the body weight, body mass index and fat content and improving muscle function and growth hormone secretion in patients with prediabetes, can delay muscle mass loss and diabetes development [80].…”

“…Therefore, TCM exercises provided more variety of choices for type 2 diabetes prevention and could be considered to popularize with their easy to learn and no limit by time and venue nature [71,79].…”

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of different exercise patterns for reducing cardiovascular events in pre-diabetes: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…It is believed that vigorous-intensity exercise is associated with greater risk reductions for CVD and allcause mortality compared with moderate-intensity activity of similar energy expended. 11 Ma et al noted 17 that the Chinese traditional exercise Baduanjin was comparable to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in reducing cardiovascular complications in patients with pre-diabetes. Also, recommendations for the optimal duration of exercise for different exercise forms are not clear.…”