YOGA AS A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM: A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder, most frequently affecting women, and is conventionally managed with lifelong levothyroxine replacement. This systematic review evaluated the role of yoga as a complementary intervention in hypothyroidism. Fourteen clinical studies (16 reports; more than 500 participants) were synthesized, employing asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation over intervention periods of one to six months. Across the included studies, yoga was associated with improvements in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), lipid profile, body-mass index (BMI), psychological well-being, and quality of life; several studies additionally reported gains in heart-rate variability and pulmonary function. No adverse events were reported. Yoga appears to be a safe, low-cost, and potentially effective adjunct in hypothyroidism, although the small number of adequately powered randomised trials and the modest methodological quality of much of the evidence temper the strength of these conclusions. Well-designed, adequately powered randomised controlled trials with standardised protocols and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings