ASSESSMENT OF SERUM MINERALS AND CLIMACTERIC SYMPTOMS IN PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER YOGA THERAPY, A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Background: Many women report an increased level of anxiety, irritability and mood swings during their perimenopausal period. Studies show that physically active people can reduce their anxiety and depression and yoga practice is the one such activity. Magnesium plays an important role in body temperature regulation and heart palpitation associated with hot flashes during perimenopausal period. Calcium deficiency in the body causes restlessness and awake fulness observed in perimenopausal women and serum calcium is also associated with blood pressure and metabolic risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To assess the serum mineral status and climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women before and after yoga intervention. Methods: It is a single group, prospective study. Thirty female subjects belonging to the coastal belt of Udupi District, Karnataka with perimenopausal symptoms and ability to perform yoga, aged between 40-60 years (49.43 [+ or -] 6.15) were included in the study. Yoga intervention was given on a daily basis (45 minutes duration) for 12 weeks. The climacteric symptoms were assessed by Greene's Climacteric Scale and biochemical parameters were analysed spectrophotometrically. Results: Climacteric symptoms were improved significantly (p