Higher DHEAS Levels Associated with Long-Term Practicing of Tai Chi

• Published in: Chinese journal of physiology Vol. 60; no. 2; p. 124
• Main Authors: Lai, Hung-Min, Liu, Mark Shui-Yu, Lin, Ting-Ju, Tsai, Ying-Lan, Chien, Eileen Jea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India 30.04.2017
• Subjects: Cholesterol - blood; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Lipoproteins, HDL - blood; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength - physiology; Physical Conditioning, Human - methods; Tai Ji - methods; Testosterone - blood; Treatment Outcome; Triglycerides - blood; aged; cortisol; sex steroids; exercise; quality of life; meditation
• ISSN: 0304-4920
• DOI: 10.4077/CJP.2017.BAF454

Tai Chi has many benefits for middle-aged/older individuals including improvements to muscle strength and various body lipid components. DHEAS and testosterone have anti-obesity/anti-aging characteristics and also improve libido, vitality and immunity levels. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between middle-aged Tai Chi practitioners (n = 17) and sedentary individuals (n = 17) in terms of leg strength, blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, as well as DHEAS, testosterone and cortisol. Unpaired t-tests were used to identify significant differences between the two groups. There were no significant differences in body composition, leg strength, blood lipid components and testosterone. However, the Tai Chi practitioners had higher levels of DHEAS (P < 0.01) and lower levels of cortisol (P < 0.05). Thus, Tai Chi practitioners have a higher ratio of DHEAS to cortisol, which might have potential benefits in terms of improving an individual’s health-related quality of life during the aging.