Enhancing Physiological Stress Regulation Through Vagal Yoga in Substance Abuse Rehabilitation: A Study of Serum Cortisol, C-Reactive Protein, and Fasting Blood Glucose
South India Journal of Social Sciences April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.62656/sijss.v24i2.2347 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Male participants aged 18–50 years undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for substance use disorders |
| Interventions | Yoga Pranayama and Meditation (YPM) |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Measures | Serum cortisol (µg/dL), C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/L), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (mg/dL) |
| Key findings | The 12-week YPM intervention significantly reduced serum cortisol, CRP, and FBG in the experimental group compared to the control group, which showed no significant changes. |
Abstract
Background: Substance use disorders are associated with dysregulation of stress-related and metabolic biomarkers, including serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation (YPM) may influence these physiological parameters; however, evidence in rehabilitation settings remains limited.Aim: To evaluate the effect of a 12-week YPM intervention on serum cortisol, CRP, and FBG among individuals undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for substance use disorders.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 60 male participants aged 18–50 years in a licensed rehabilitation centre. Participants were allocated to an experimental group (n = 30) receiving daily YPM sessions alongside routine rehabilitation care, or a control group (n = 30) receiving routine care only. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Serum cortisol (µg/dL), CRP (mg/L), and FBG (mg/dL) were measured and analysed using paired and independent sample t-tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: After 12 weeks, the experimental group showed significant reductions in serum cortisol (p < 0.01), CRP (p < 0.01), and FBG (p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Between-group comparisons indicated significantly greater improvement in all three biomarkers in the experimental group.Conclusion: A structured 12-week YPM program as an adjunct to routine rehabilitation care was associated with significant improvements in stress-related and metabolic biomarkers among individuals undergoing substance use rehabilitation. These findings are limited to the parameters assessed in this study.