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Improvement in cardio-metabolic health and immune signatures in old individuals using daily chores (Salat) as an intervention: a randomized crossover study in a little-studied population

  • Iftikhar Alam
    ,
  • Riaz Ullah
    ,
  • Attaullah Jan
    ,
  • Sehar Sehar
    ,
  • Atif Ali Khan Khalil
    ,
  • Huma Naqeeb
  • Bacha Khan University
    ,
  • King Saud University
    ,
  • Lahore College for Women University, Lahore
    ,
  • Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
    ,
  • Khyber Teaching Hospital
    ,
  • Allama Iqbal Open University
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Background: Decline in cardio-metabolic health, immunity, and physical activity is associated with old age. Old people also find it difficult to engage in structured exercise programs. Therefore, there is a need to investigate common daily chores as an alternative for exercise that may also help in maintaining cardio-metabolic and immune health. Objective: We aimed to investigate whether Salat, an obligatory Islamic prayer involving various physical movements and closely resembling yoga, enhances the benefits conferred by the current guidelines for physical activity. Methods: A total of 30 overweight adults (mean (SD) age of 53.5 (8.7) years) participated in this study. For a 4-week duration, we compared the effects of Salat before/after meals (Pre-MS/Post-MS) on selected immunological and metabolic parameters in serum samples. We also compared the effects of both Pre-MS/Post-MS regimens in young and old subjects to observe any age-related effects. Results: Most of the baseline metabolic parameters and the count of immune cells were normal. Post-MS resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and percent body fat (%BF). Overall, Post-MS resulted in a clear leukocytosis with a significant increase in granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. When analyzing the lymphocyte compartment, a clear numerical increase was noted for T, B, and NK cells. The number of CD8+ T cells showed a statistically significant increase. Similarly, Post-MS induced leukocytosis in both young and old individuals, while the increase in granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes was statistically significant in old subjects only. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the Islamic obligatory and congressional Salat practice is capable of mimicking desirable pro-immune and pro-metabolic health effects. Clinical trial registration: (UMIN000048901).

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

1009055

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 1009055

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Frontiers in Public Health (Volume 10)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 22/09/2022
  • Published - 24/10/2022

Publication status

Published - 24/10/2022

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625557
  • Scopus: 85141402024
  • PubMed: 36353274

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