Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Study participants who practiced yoga both moderately and strenuously had a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α compared to those who did not practice yoga.
Regular physical activity plays an indispensable role in the maintenance of good health. Exercise is known to elevate mood, promote a healthy level of weight, and even enhance immune system function. More specifically, regular physical activity may support immune health by decreasing circulating blood levels of inflammatory cytokines (cell-signaling proteins involved in regulating immune response), including Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) 1, indicative of lower levels of inflammation. With exercise, different forms and degrees of intensity produce varying grades of stress on the body, in turn, influencing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted in the system 2. Yoga, as a popular stress-relieving activity, has been associated with improved cellular immunity during times of stress and is thought to actually lower inflammation levels over time 3. Therefore, researchers estimate that cytokine levels might be lower in practitioners of yoga in response to physical challenge. To confirm the beneficial impact of yoga practice on inflammatory indices, a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (2015) examined levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in practitioners and non-practitioners of yoga before and after moderate and intense physical activity.
Participants in the controlled trial consisted of a total of 218 participants (aged 20-60 years), of whom 109 practiced yoga regularly for at least one hour daily over the last five years and the other 109 had no experience with yoga. Subjects in the yoga group and the non-yoga group were matched in height, weight, age, and gender, and all subjects were asked to perform moderate and strenuous physical exercises based on a 10-minute Standardized Shuttle Walk test (timed walk test involving intervals). Prior to and following each bout of exercise, blood samples were collected for chemical analysis of IL-6 and TNF-α.
Results indicated that resting levels of plasma TNF-α concentrations were significantly higher in the non-yoga group vs. the yoga group (p < 0.05). When compared to the yoga group, the non-yoga group also demonstrated a significant increase in both IL-6 and TNF-α after moderate exercise and after strenuous exercise (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). In the non-yoga group only, a significant difference was found in both IL-6 and TNF-α between baseline and post-exercise (both moderate and strenuous) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons).
Overall, findings indicate that long-term yoga practice can lower resting levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Traditional meditation-based practice may offer protection against acute surges in inflammation following exposure to stressful or physically challenging activities. Therefore, by favorably altering pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, prevention of certain inflammatory diseases may be possible with regular yoga practice.
Source: Vijayaraghava A,, Doreswamy V, Narasipur OS, et al. Effects of yoga practice on levels of inflammatory markers after moderate and strenuous exercise. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2015; 9(6): CC08-CC12. DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/12851.6021.
Click here to read the full text study.
Posted September 18, 2017.
Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
References:
- Borges G, Rama L, Pedreiro S, et al. Differences in plasma cytokine levels between elite kayakers and nonathletes. BioMed research international. 2013;2013.
- Chomiuk T, Folga A, Mamcarz A. The influence of systematic pulse-limited physical exercise on the parameters of the cardiovascular system in patients over 65 years of age. Archives of medical science: AMS. 2013;9(2):201.
- Ram A, Banerjee B, Hosakote VS, Rao RM, Nagarathna R. Comparison of lymphocyte apoptotic index and qualitative DNA damage in yoga practitioners and breast cancer patients: A pilot study. International journal of yoga. 2013;6(1):20.
