{
  "abstract": "Background: Obesity is a growing global health problem characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation and epigenetic dysregulation. Epigenetic mechanisms—potentially reversible changes in gene expression occurring without alteration of the DNA sequence, most notably DNA methylation—are increasingly implicated in obesity-related inflammation. Yoga may act as complementary therapy.\n\nObjective: To explore whether participation in a structured yoga program is associated with changes in DNA methylation of TNF-α, and with clinical, hormonal, metabolic and psychological parameters, in patients with severe obesity awaiting bariatric surgery.\n\nMethods: In this prospective, non-randomised, controlled observational cohort study, 40 patients were analysed (20 yoga, 20 control). The intervention group underwent 36 PRANA_it yoga sessions over the 3 months preceding surgery (mean attendance 26/36, 72.5%). DNA methylation was profiled using a targeted three-gene inflammatory panel (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP). Between-group differences were estimated by baseline-adjusted ANCOVA.\n\nResults: Plasma noradrenaline was significantly lower in the yoga group at T1 after adjustment for baseline [adjusted difference −206.92, 95% CI (−349.62, −64.21), p = 0.0057]. SF-36 physical functioning differed between groups in the unadjusted change-score comparison ( p = 0.0206) but not after baseline adjustment [−8.69, 95% CI (−21.74, 4.36), p = 0.185]. Circulating TNF-α protein changed significantly more in the yoga group in the unadjusted analysis ( p = 0.0452), a finding with high variance. Vitamin D3 showed no significant adjusted difference at T1 ( p = 0.879); the T2 difference was borderline ( p = 0.064). DNA methylation of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP showed no significant changes after correction for multiple comparisons. Psychological outcomes, a secondary domain, did not differ significantly between groups.\n\nConclusion: In patients with severe obesity preparing for bariatric surgery, a structured preoperative yoga program was associated with a significant baseline-adjusted reduction in plasma noradrenaline, consistent with reduced sympathetic activation during a demanding phase of care. No epigenetic changes were detected, suggesting that measurable methylation remodelling may require longer exposure, larger samples, or tissue-specific sampling. These exploratory findings support yoga as a feasible, low-risk adjunct within bariatric prehabilitation, while the non-randomised design precludes causal inference. Adequately powered randomised trials with extended follow-up are needed to confirm this neuroendocrine signal.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Endocrine-Metabolic Nutrition Center, IRCCS, Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio , ,",
    "National Institute of Obesity Cure (INCO)-Bariatric Unit, IRCCS, Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio , ,",
    "BioCor Biobank, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , ,",
    "Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University , ,",
    "IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Scientific Directorate , ,",
    "Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carmela Asteria"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Giorgia Scichilone"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Rosanna Cardani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Dejan Lazarevic"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Valentina Milani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Federico Ambrogi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Laura Valentina Renna"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Marco Morelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Francesca Giannese"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Anna Sofia Tascini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Nicoletta Caridi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Fabiana Barbieri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Michela Ravelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Alessandro Giovanelli"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8jcc1kgnn2x1x.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1858629",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13690647/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "8jcc1kgnn2x1x",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690647",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2746|Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221190754",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13690647/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13690647",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8jcc1kgnn2x1x.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:00Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13690647",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690647"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:22Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1858629",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1858629/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2746|Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Influence of yoga on the epigenetics of obesity: a study on its short- and medium-term benefits in the treatment of patients with severe/morbid obesity eligible for bariatric surgery",
  "title_text": "Influence of yoga on the epigenetics of obesity: a study on its short- and medium-term benefits in the treatment of patients with severe/morbid obesity eligible for bariatric surgery",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8jcc1kgnn2x1x",
  "venue": "Frontiers in public health",
  "versions": []
}