Yoga, Immune Function, and Health

NCT00371397 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 2005H0068R21AT002971-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study is designed to examine the impact of hatha yoga on immune and hormonal functioning in healthy individuals.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

yoga; immune function; stress; health; mood; skin barrier repair

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Number of Participants With Detectable C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

  High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) assessed once at baseline, at each of the three visits. The hsCRP assay was performed using chemiluminescence methodology with the Immulite 1000 (Siemens Medical Solutions, Los Angeles, Ca.) The lowest level of detection is .3 mg/dL. 43% of the values were below this lower bound, thus hsCRP was dichotomized as undetectable/detectable.

  8:30 a.m. at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

• Cortisol

  All cortisol and catecholamine samples for a subject were frozen after collection and analyzed within the same assay run after the participant had completed the study.

  Day 1 8:30, 10:05, 10:58, 11:35, 12:05, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Skin Barrier Repair: Trans-epidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

  Cellophane tape stripping, a common dermatological paradigm for studying restoration of the skin barrier, was used to examine whether the time necessary for recovery from minor physical insults varied by condition or yoga expertise. Measurement of the rate of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) through human skin provides a noninvasive method to monitor changes in the skin's barrier function. TEWL was measured twice during the session using a computerized evaporimetry instrument, the DermaLab® (CyberDERM, Media, PA), and barrier recovery was calculated.

  11:50, 12:50 at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

• Immune Function: Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor (sIL-6r)

  Serum levels of the sIL-6r were assayed using Quantikine High Sensitivity Immunoassay kits (R\&D), per kit instructions.

  Day 1 8:30, 11:35, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Immune Function: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α)

  Serum levels of TNF-α were assayed using Quantikine High Sensitivity Immunoassay kits (R\&D), per kit instructions.

  Day 1 8:30, 11:35, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Immune Function: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -Stimulated Production of Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

  Supernatants from PBLs stimulated with 5μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 72 h were assayed for IL-6 and TNF-α using ELISA kits (B-D Pharmingen).

  Day 1 8:30, 10:05, 11:35, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Immune Function: LPS-stimulated Production of TNF-α

  Supernatants from PBLs stimulated with 5μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 72 h were assayed for IL-6 and TNF-α using ELISA kits (B-D Pharmingen).

  Day 1 8:30, 10:05, 11:35, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Immune Function: Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

  Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and the sIL-6r were assayed using Quantikine High Sensitivity Immunoassay kits (R\&D), per kit instructions

  Day 1 8:30, 11:35, 13:10. Day 2 7:30

• Catecholamine Production: Epinephrine

  All cortisol and catecholamine samples for a subject were frozen after collection and analyzed within the same assay run after the participant had completed the study.

  8:30, 10:05, 10:28, 10:58, 11:35, 12:05 at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

• Catecholamine Production: Norepinephrine

  All cortisol and catecholamine samples for a subject were frozen after collection and analyzed within the same assay run after the participant had completed the study.

  8:30, 10:05, 10:28, 10:58, 11:35, 12:05

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Heart Rate

  Day 1: 8:30, 9:15, 9:45, 10:00, 10:45, 11:35, 12:05, 12:15

• Blood Pressure

  7:55 at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

• Mood: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)Positive

  7:35, 11:45, 12:30 at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

• Mood: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)Negative

  7:35, 11:45, 12:30 at each of the three visits, scheduled at least 2 weeks apart

Study Arms (3)

Hatha yoga classes

EXPERIMENTAL

Groups consisted of novices or experts. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Behavioral: Hatha Yoga Classes

Movement Control

SHAM COMPARATOR

Non-Hatha yoga gentle movement. Groups consisted of novices or experts. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Behavioral: Movement Control

Passive Video Control

NO INTERVENTION

Another control condition, a neutral video that did not include any music, allowed us to contrast the effects of yoga with no activity.The session included a sequence on how to design physics experiments for a high school classroom, as well as segments from two lectures on polymers and quantum mechanics. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Interventions

Hatha Yoga Classes BEHAVIORAL

Iyengar yoga, the form of hatha yoga used in this study, emphasizes the use of props to help students achieve precise postures safely and comfortably according to their particular body types and needs. The yoga activity sessions were directed by four experienced yoga teachers following a script. The poses used were (in order) Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog), Supported Uttanasana (Intense Forward Stretch), Parsvotanasana (Intense Side Stretch Pose), Prasarita Padottanansana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend), Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose), Bharadvajasana (Simple Seated Twist Pose), Viparita Karani (Restful Inversion), Supported Setu Bandha Sarvanagasana (Bridge Pose), and Savasana (Corpse Pose). Blood draws occurred during the last two minutes of Supta Baddha Konasana (pose held 10 minutes), Viparita Karani (10 minutes), and Savasana (15 minutes).

Hatha yoga classes

Movement Control BEHAVIORAL

Walking on a treadmill at .5 miles per hour was used to control for general physical movement/cardiovascular expenditure because it best approximated the heart rates during the restorative yoga session. To match the lower heart rate, women also rested supine on a bed for several minutes after walking, before and after getting their blood drawn.

Movement Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• healthy female adults
• relatively inexperienced with yoga (beginner)
• experienced with yoga (advanced practitioner)

You may not qualify if:

• Treatment with medication that has immunological or endocrinological consequences
• Chronic health problems that affect immune or endocrine systems
• Anemia
• Use of psychoactive drugs or mood-altering medication
• Smoking
• Needle or blood phobias
• Tape or bandage allergies
• Pregnancy or nursing within the previous 3 months
• Heart problems
• History of hip or knee replacement surgery, displaced vertebrae, and any other physical limitations that would prevent full participation in the program
• use of statins, beta blockers
• excessive alcohol use
• convulsive disorders
• Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ohio State University: lead
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ohio State University Clinical Research Center

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Christian L, Preston H, Houts CR, Malarkey WB, Emery CF, Glaser R. Stress, inflammation, and yoga practice. Psychosom Med. 2010 Feb;72(2):113-21. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181cb9377. Epub 2010 Jan 11.

  PMID: 20064902 RESULT

Related Links

• Please click here to visit our website if you would like to read more about our studies.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD
• Organization: Ohio State University Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research

Kiecolt-Glaser.1@osu.edu

614-292-0033

Study Officials

• Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD

  Ohio State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2006
• First Posted: September 4, 2006
• Study Start: September 1, 2005
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2008
• Study Completion: September 1, 2008
• Last Updated: July 6, 2016
• Results First Posted: July 6, 2011

Record last verified: 2016-06

Locations

US (1)