生物谷報道：來自Boston大學醫(yī)學院及McLean醫(yī)院的科學家們最近發(fā)現(xiàn)，練習瑜伽可以提高大腦中γ-胺基丁酸（GABA）的含量,，GABA是大腦中主要的抑制性神經傳導物質,。這項研究結果發(fā)表于5月號的Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine中。研究結果指出,，瑜伽可以治療憂郁或焦慮等,，與低GABA濃度相關的神經疾病。
世界衛(wèi)生組織報告指出,，精神疾病占世界疾病總量的15%,。而其中憂郁和焦慮癥都和GABA含量過低有關。目前,，這些疾病可以通過提高GABA的藥物得到有效的治療,。
利用核磁共振影像技術，科學家比較練習瑜伽前后的GABA含量變化情況,，同時還分析了沒有練習瑜伽,，但是閱讀一小時的情況。結果顯示參與瑜伽的小組中,，GABA含量提高了27%,，但是在參與閱讀的小組中沒有變化。
因此,，瑜伽可以減輕包括憂郁,、焦慮和癲癇等癥狀。文章主要作者BUSM的精神病學及神經學助理教授Chris Streeter表示,，練習瑜伽之后,，人們的大腦中GABA的含量提高了。這項研究有助于科學家了解GABA系統(tǒng)如何受到藥物和行為的影響,，因此有助于研發(fā)出新的治療方法,。
原始出處:
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
May 2007, Vol. 13, No. 4 : 419 -426
Yoga Asana Sessions Increase Brain GABA Levels: A Pilot Study
Chris C. Streeter, M.D.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
J. Eric Jensen, Ph.D.
McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Ruth M. Perlmutter, B.S.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Howard J. Cabral, Ph.D.
Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Hua Tian, M.S.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Devin B. Terhune, M.Sc.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Domenic A. Ciraulo, M.D.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Boston V.A. Healthcare System, Boston, MA.
Perry F. Renshaw, M.D.
Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare changes in brain γ-aminobutyric (GABA) levels associated with an acute yoga session versus a reading session. It was hypothesized that an individual yoga session would be associated with an increase in brain GABA levels.
Design: This is a parallel-groups design.
Settings/location: Screenings, scan acquisitions, and interventions took place at medical school–affiliated centers.
Subjects: The sample comprised 8 yoga practitioners and 11 comparison subjects.
Interventions: Yoga practitioners completed a 60-minute yoga session and comparison subjects completed a 60-minute reading session.
Outcome measures: GABA-to-creatine ratios were measured in a 2-cm axial slab using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging immediately prior to and immediately after interventions.
Results: There was a 27% increase in GABA levels in the yoga practitioner group after the yoga session (0.20 mmol/kg) but no change in the comparison subject group after the reading session ( −0.001 mmol/kg) (t = −2.99, df = 7.87, p = 0.018).
Conclusions:These findings demonstrate that in experienced yoga practitioners, brain GABA levels increase after a session of yoga. This suggests that the practice of yoga should be explored as a treatment for disorders with low GABA levels such as depression and anxiety disorders. Future studies should compare yoga to other forms of exercise to help determine whether yoga or exercise alone can alter GABA levels.
