Prenatal yoga modulates endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in women at high risk of preeclampsia: A quasi-experimental study

Context: Preeclampsia is associated with endothelial dysfunction marked by imbalances in endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO). Aims: To evaluate the effect of prenatal yoga on serum ET-1 and NO levels in pregnant women at high risk for preeclampsia. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted on 46 pregnant women (9–16 weeks gestation), assigned to yoga (n=23) and control (n=23) groups. Both groups received standard prenatal care; the intervention group additionally practiced 30-minute yoga sessions five times weekly for four weeks. Serum ET-1 and NO levels were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: The yoga group showed a significant decrease in ET-1 levels (p=0.039) and an increase in NO levels (p=0.031), whereas the control group showed opposite trends. Between-group comparisons were also significant for both biomarkers (p<0.01). Conclusions: Prenatal yoga may improve endothelial function and reduce the risk of preeclampsia through modulation of ET-1 and NO levels.