Improving Effect of Health Qigong · Ba Duan Jin on the Blood Fat Level of the Old and Middle-aged People
When one enters the middle age, the physiological functions of the body will gradually decline and the incidence of all kinds of diseases will significantly rise. High blood pressure, obesity, dyslipidemia, abnormal glucose metabolism, and the resulting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have replaced tumor and accidents to become the greatest threats to the health of old and middle-aged people in terms of disease-related mortality [1]. Physical exercises can prevent and cure all kinds of diseases. Of all the sports, Martial Arts and Qigong are the most popular health-preserving exercises among the old people. This paper is meant to verify the health-preserving effects of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin by observing the changes in the blood fat level of the old and middle-aged people after the exercise.
6.5.1 Objects and methodology
6.5.1.1 Research objects
82 old males 61~65 years of age and 229 old and middle-aged females 56~60 years of age are chosen from ShijingshanDistrict, Fengtai District, and Miyun County of Beijing with the stratified random cluster sampling method assisted by health examination and screening. All of these objects area basically healthy and do not have the habit of sports or exercises. They are randomly divided into a Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin Experimental Group and Control Group. See Table 1 for the basic information of the research objects.
Table 6.5-1 Basic Information of Research Objects
|
Group n
|
Age (years)
|
Body Height (cm)
|
Body Weight (Kg)
|
|
Male
|
Control group 32
|
62.4±2.6
|
169.8±4.2
|
76.3±10.8
|
|
|
Experimental group 50
|
63.0±2.7
|
168.1±4.6
|
75.2±7.7
|
|
Female
|
Control group 60
|
56.9±3.0
|
156.6±5.8
|
66.8±7.6
|
|
|
Experimental group 169
|
57.8±2.6
|
155.5±4.3
|
65.6±8.0
|
6.5.1.2 Blood fat determination
Fasting blood TG (total triglyceride), TC (total cholesterol), LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) are measured. TG and TC are measured with the PAP method. LDL-C and HDL-C are measured with the enzyme method. A semi-automatic biochemical analyzer is used as the measuring instrument. The kits are provided by Beijing Zhongsheng Biological High Technology Co., Ltd.
6.5.1.3 Exercises
Test objects of the experimental group practice Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin 5~7 days per week for 6 months. They repeat the exercise 3 times every morning (for about 1h) together under the guidance of an instructor. During the experiment, they have similar activities and activity amounts to those before the experiment. Their dietary intake remains the same and adverse mental stimulation is avoided. Test objects keep training diaries throughout the entire experiment.
6.5.1.4 Statistical analysis
Spss10.0 software is used for statistical analysis of data. t-test of paired samples is used for comparison within groups. t-test of independent samples is used for comparison between groups.
6.5.2 Results
Table 6.5-2 Changes in the Blood Fat Levels of Male Groups
|
Group
|
|
Before experiment (Control n=32; Exercise n=50)
|
|
3m of experiment (Control n=25; Exercise n=43)
|
|
6m of experiment (Control n=24; Exercise n=40)
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
Control
|
x
|
1.50
|
4.84
|
1.07
|
3.06
|
0.22
|
3.73
|
|
1.48
|
5.01
|
1.23
|
3.31
|
0.25
|
3.26
|
|
1.51
|
4.94
|
1.05
|
3.10
|
0.27
|
3.51
|
|
s
|
0.6
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
|
0.7
|
0.8
|
0.2
|
0.8
|
0.1
|
1.0
|
|
0.1
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
|
Exercise
|
x
|
1.52
|
5.04
|
1.03
|
3.03
|
0.24
|
3.51
|
|
1.50
|
5.08
|
1.35â–²
|
3.20
|
0.28
|
2.88
|
|
1.31☆â–
|
4.53☆â–
|
1.34☆
|
2.91
|
0.32☆â–
|
3.02☆
|
|
s
|
0.5
|
0.7
|
0.2
|
0.7
|
0.1
|
0.8
|
|
0.6
|
0.8
|
0.3
|
0.8
|
0.1
|
0.9
|
|
0.5
|
0.7
|
0.2
|
0.7
|
0.1
|
1.1
|
Notes: AS means atherosclerosis; Anti-As index=HDL-C/TC; As-induction index=(TCï¼HDL-C)/HDL-C
＊, P<0.05 by comparison between control group and experimental group; ▲, P<0.05 by comparison between values measured respectively before experiment and after 3m of experiment; ☆, P<0.05 by comparison between values measured respectively before experiment and after 6m of experiment; ■, P<0.05 by comparison between values measured respectively after 3m of experiment and after 6m of experiment. (Same as below).
Table 6.5-3 Changes in the Blood Fat Levels of Female Groups
|
Group
|
|
Before experiment (Control n=60; Exercise n=169)
|
|
3m of experiment (Control n=44; Exercise n=120)
|
|
6m of experiment (Control n=36; Exercise n=114)
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
TG
(mg/dl)
|
TC
(mg/dl)
|
HDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
LDL-C
(mg/dl)
|
Anti-As
Index
|
As-induction
Index
|
|
Control
|
x
|
1.73
|
4.98
|
1.18
|
2.73
|
0.25
|
3.34
|
|
1.75
|
4.98
|
1.28
|
2.88
|
0.26
|
3.15
|
|
1.56
|
4.47
|
0.98
|
2.70
|
0.23
|
3.57
|
|
s
|
0.7
|
1.0
|
0.3
|
0.9
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
0.9
|
0.8
|
0.4
|
0.8
|
0.1
|
1.2
|
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0.2
|
1.2
|
0.1
|
1.2
|
|
Exercise
|
x
|
1.79
|
4.92
|
1.13
|
2.91
|
0.27
|
3.02
|
|
1.77
|
4.94
|
1.29â–²
|
2.94
|
0.28
|
2.81â–²
|
|
1.41☆â–
|
4.40☆â–
|
1.34☆
|
2.65
|
0.27
|
3.02
|
|
s
|
0.5
|
0.9
|
0.3
|
1.0
|
0.1
|
1.2
|
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0.3
|
0.9
|
0.1
|
1.0
|
|
0.6
|
0.9
|
0.3
|
0.8
|
0.1
|
1.5
|
6.5.3 Discussion
In developed countries, deaths caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are already contributing to about 1/3 of the total death rate. The old and middle-aged people are prone to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A great deal of physiological and pathological researches have revealed that the occurrences of theses diseases are closely related to abnormal lipid metabolism and excessively high levels of body fat. Taking regular aerobic exercises on a long-term basis can improve the blood fat level and body composition. This is manifested by the decreased levels of serum TG, TC, VLDL-C and LDL-C, the increased level of HDL-C, and the increased ratios of HDL-C/TC and HDL-C/LDL-C[2-5].
This research has revealed that after 3 months of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin exercise, the HDL-C level of old males was significantly higher than it had been before the exercise (P<0.05). By comparison between values measured respectively after 6 months of exercise and after 3 months of exercise, TG and TC were significant decreased (P<0.05), the anti-AS index was significantly raised (P<0.05), and HDL-C remained unchanged. By comparison between values measured respectively after 6 months of exercise and before the experiment, TG, TC, and AS-induction index were significant decreased (P<0.05) and HDL-C and anti-AS index were significantly raised (P0.05).
After 3 months of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin exercise, the HDL-C level of old and middle-aged females was significantly raised (P<0.05) and the AS-induction index was significantly decreased (P<0.05). By comparison between values measured respectively after 6 months of exercise and after 3 months of exercise, TG and TC were significant decreased (P<0.05), HDL-C was further raised, and the AS-induction index was raised to some extent. By comparison between values measured respectively after 6 months of exercise and before the experiment, TG and TC were significant decreased (P<0.05), HDL-Cwas significantly raised (P0.05).
These research results indicate that long-term regular Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin exercise can result in improved serum lipid and lipoprotein composition, which are manifested by decreased serum TG, TC, and LDL-C concentration and increased HDL-C concentration. This will improve the originally AS-inducing serum lipoprotein composition.
Serum LDL is the major approach through which the endogenous cholesterol synthesized in the liver is transported to the surrounding tissues. Therefore over-LDL can add to the risk of AS. HDL can transport cholesterol from artery walls to the liver where it is converted into bile acid and then discharged from the body. Therefore it has some preventive effect on AS [ 6]. However it is believed by the great majority of researchers that the absolute values of all constituents of lipoprotein cannot be used to accurately predict the extents of cardiovascular diseases such as AS. And lipoprotein ratios like HDL-C/TC or HDL-C/LDL-C are more significant than the observed changes in indexes like TC, LDL, and HDL. The HDL-C/TC ratio should better be greater than 0.2 for males or greater than 0.3 for females. If the HDL-C/TC ratio is lower than 0.2, chances of AS and coronary diseases will be high [7]. In this experiment, the HDL-C/TC value of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin Experimental Group was significantly increased after the exercise. This means that the practice of Health Qigong·Ba Duan Jin has positive effects on the prevention of AS.
To sum up, Health Qigong•Ba Duan Jin can effectively improve the blood fat level of the old and middle aged people and thus play an active role in the control, prevention, and treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore Health Qigong•Ba Duan Jin can be used by the old and middle-aged people as an effective method to preserve health and prolong life. It is worth promotion in the nationwide fitness campaign.
References
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[2] Li Xiuli. Biological Analysis of the Body-Building Effects of Aerobics [J]. Journal of Beijing University of Physical Education,2003,26（6）:776-777
[3] An Nan, Wang Songtao, Wang Anli et. al. A Study of the Suitable Intensity of Fitness Exercises for the Old and Middle-Aged Women [J]. Exercise and Sports Sciences,2005,25 (8): 62-74
[4]COX K L, et al. Long-term Effects of Exercise on Blood Pressure and Lipids in Health Women Aged 40-65 Years [J]. J Hypertension, 2001, 19 (10): 1733-1743.
[5] Li Hui, Li Keji, Zhang Baohui.Progress of Researches on Relations between Aerobic Training on Lipid Metabolism [J]. Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine,2003,12（2）:184-186.
[6] Zhou Airu.Biochemistry (6th Edition) [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2004,333-350.
[7] Cheng Xiaojuan et. al. Effects of Aerobics on Lipoprotein Metabolism and AS (Summary) [J]. Sichuan Sports Science,2000,3: 17-21.
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