A Yoga Practice May Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is associated with stress, aging and many chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 are destructive cell-signaling chemicals. High cytokine levels in the blood are a biomarker for chronic inflammation. Previous studies suggest that yoga practice lowers stress response. Now research reports that yoga practice may help reduce the body's inflammatory response due to aging and stress.

The Study

The study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, investigated the inflammatory responses of novice and expert yoga practitioners to stressors before yoga classes. Researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, administered three sessions to 25 novice and 25 expert female yoga practitioners (about the same age and weight), every two weeks. At each session, questionnaires, psychological testing and blood samples were obtained from the participants. After participating in stressful tasks, the subjects would either take a relaxing yoga class, do treadmill walking or watch neutral videos.

The Results

The researchers found that the novice group's IL-6 levels were 40% higher than the expert group. The expert group not only had lower levels of inflammation before the sessions, they also had lower inflammatory responses to stress. This suggests that the experts responded less strongly to stress than the novices. Findings also revealed that the yoga classes boosted the participants' mood but did not affect overall differences in inflammatory response.

The Main Point

"The ability to minimize inflammatory responses to stressful encounters influences the burden that stressors place on an individual," the study authors conclude. "If yoga dampens or limits stress-related changes, then regular practice could have substantial health benefits."

This study is significant because it suggests that regular yoga practice may help reduce the risk for chronic and age-related diseases. Since inflammation is linked to chronic disease, reducing inflammation through yoga practice may provide substantial health benefits.

Sources

Kiecolt-Glaser JK et al. Stress, Inflammation, and Yoga Practice. Psychosom Med. 2010 Jan 11.

Gavalas, Elaine. The Yoga Minibook for Stress Relief. Simon & Schuster Fireside. elainegavalas.com .