DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan medicine is more effective than western approach in combating obesity and overweight, which are key risks factor for death of patients with heart diseases, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Cardiology.
A group of researchers conducted a first of its kind study to compare dietary and behavioral advice according to recommended Western medicine diet and Tibetan diet in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) and manifest metabolic syndrome.
Using parallel group dietary and behavioral intervention study, the researchers evaluated 524 patients with body mass index (BMI) N25 kg/m2 undergoing angiotheraphy in Germany between December 2008 and November 2010. A total of 262 patients were assigned to Western diet, another 262 to Tibetan diet. All the patients were white Caucasian.
The result showed significant reduction of body weight and BMI in both groups of patients after 6 and 12 months, but these changes were more pronounced in patients following Tibetan diet (6.2 ± 4.4 kg/m2; BMI change: − 2.1 ± 1.5 kg/ m2) as compared to Western diet (−3.2 ± 3.0 kg; BMI change: −1.1 ± 1.0 kg/m2). The level of LDL cholesterol was also significantly lower in patients following the principles of Tibetan diet after 6 months, the study said.
Dr. Stephan von Haehling, a senior clinician and researcher at the Department of Cardiology, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany, led the study with a team of three cardiologists and Dr. Namgyal Qusar, who practices traditional Tibetan medicine at Tibetan Healing Centre in Dharamsala, India.
The researchers said their findings should be substantiated by larger multicenter studies.
