Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Traditional Medicine

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2215-0838
ISSN (Online): 2215-0846

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Mini-Review Article

Impact of Yoga on Immune Response with Special Reference to COVID- 19: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Author(s): Neha Mishra* and Saurabh Mishra

Volume 10, Issue 1, 2024

Published on: 22 February, 2023

Article ID: e250123213141 Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/2215083809666230125141650

Price: $65

conference banner
Abstract

Like other viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV- 2) continuously evolves due to mutations during genome replication. These mutations lead to various new variants and may alter the pathogenicity, immune escape capacity, and re-infection risk. In addition, it is also evident that a compromised immune system increases the susceptibility and severity of the disease. Therefore, strengthening the immune system is considered to combat COVID. Yoga is an ancient practice used for strengthening the body and mind. There are abundant studies that focus on yoga's benefits for stress management; however, lesser studies observed the effects of yoga on the immune system. Therefore, the present study aims to compile randomized controlled studies on the role of yoga in immunity and COVID-19. Our finding reported moderate evidence for the benefits of yoga in the levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). However, lesser shreds of evidence were observed on the effect of yoga on innate and adaptive immunity. Our finding reported a paucity of studies examining the impact of yoga on the immunity of COVID patients. Thus, its efficacy as a potential adjuvant to attenuate COVID-19 infection has yet to be proven. Further extensive studies are recommended to draw the inference on the impact of yoga on COVID-19.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
del Rio C, Malani PN. Novel coronavirus-important information for clinicians. JAMA 2020; 323(11): 1039-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.1490] [PMID: 32022836]
[2]
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Situation report. World Health Organization 2020; p. pp. 72.
[3]
Singhal T. A review of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Indian J Pediatr 2020; 87(4): 281-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12098-020-03263-6] [PMID: 32166607]
[4]
Jia HP, Look DC, Shi L, et al. ACE2 receptor expression and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection depend on differentiation of human airway epithelia. J Virol 2005; 79(23): 14614-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.79.23.14614-14621.2005] [PMID: 16282461]
[5]
Liu YJ. IPC: professional type 1 interferon-producing cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cell precursors. Annu Rev Immunol 2005; 23(1): 275-306.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.immunol.23.021704.115633] [PMID: 15771572]
[6]
Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med 2020; 8(4): 420-2.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30076-X] [PMID: 32085846]
[7]
Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020; 395(10223): 497-506.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5] [PMID: 31986264]
[8]
Tang Y, Liu J, Zhang D, Xu Z, Ji J, Wen C. Cytokine storm in COVID-19: The current evidence and treatment strategies. Front Immunol 2020; 11: 1708.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01708] [PMID: 32754163]
[9]
Williams AE, Chambers RC. The mercurial nature of neutrophils: still an enigma in ARDS? Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2014; 306(3): L217-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00311.2013] [PMID: 24318116]
[10]
Maheshkumar K, Venugopal V, Poonguzhali S, Mangaiarkarasi N, Venkateswaran ST, Manavalan N. Trends in the use of yoga and naturopathy based lifestyle clinics for the management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Tamilnadu, South India. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health 2020; 8(2): 647-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2019.09.013]
[11]
Feuerstein G. Yoga tradition: Its history, literature, philosophy, and practice. Prescott, Arizona: Hohm Press 1998; p. 728.
[12]
Djalilova DM, Schulz PS, Berger AM, Case AJ, Kupzyk KA, Ross AC. Impact of yoga on inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review. Biol Res Nurs 2019; 21(2): 198-209.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1099800418820162] [PMID: 30572710]
[13]
Nagendra HR. Yoga for COVID-19. Int J Yoga 2020; 13(2): 87-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_27_20] [PMID: 32669761]
[14]
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Bennett JM, Andridge R, et al. Yoga’s impact on inflammation, mood, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32(10): 1040-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2013.51.8860] [PMID: 24470004]
[15]
Pullen PR, Thompson WR, Benardot D, et al. Benefits of yoga for African American heart failure patients. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010; 42(4): 651-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181bf24c4] [PMID: 19952833]
[16]
Rajbhoj PH, Shete SU, Verma A, Bhogal RS. Effect of yoga module on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in industrial workers of lonavla: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Diagn Res 2015; 9(2): CC01-5.
[PMID: 25859450]
[17]
Adhikari C, Shah K, Saha S, Saxena D. Yoga, immunity and COVID-19: A scoping review. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11(5): 1683-701.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2182_21] [PMID: 35800501]
[18]
Shete SU, Verma A, Kulkarni DD, Bhogal RS. Effect of yoga training on inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein in employees of small-scale industries. J Educ Health Promot 2017; 6: 76.
[PMID: 28856165]
[19]
Black DS, Cole SW, Irwin MR, et al. Yogic meditation reverses NF-κB and IRF-related transcriptome dynamics in leukocytes of family dementia caregivers in a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013; 38(3): 348-55.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.06.011] [PMID: 22795617]
[20]
Creswell JD, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, et al. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: A small randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun 2012; 26(7): 1095-101.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006] [PMID: 22820409]
[21]
Bower JE, Greendale G, Crosswell AD, et al. Yoga reduces inflammatory signaling in fatigued breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2014; 43: 20-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.01.019] [PMID: 24703167]
[22]
Harkess KN, Ryan J, Delfabbro PH, Cohen-Woods S. Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6(11): e965.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/tp.2016.234] [PMID: 27898068]
[23]
Long Parma D, Hughes DC, Ghosh S, et al. Effects of six months of Yoga on inflammatory serum markers prognostic of recurrence risk in breast cancer survivors. Springerplus 2015; 4(1): 143.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-0912-z] [PMID: 25853030]
[24]
Juanamasta IG, Priastana IK. Yoga affect to system immune: A systematic review. Int Conf Nurs 2021; 44: 101446.
[25]
Lim SA, Cheong KJ. Regular yoga practice improves antioxidant status, immune function, and stress hormone releases in young healthy people: A randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2015; 21(9): 530-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0044] [PMID: 26181573]
[26]
Beadling C, Slifka MK. Regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses by the related cytokines IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27. Arch Immunol Ther Exp 2006; 54(1): 15-24.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00005-006-0002-6] [PMID: 16642253]
[27]
Hamza T, Barnett JB, Li B. Interleukin 12 a key immunoregulatory cytokine in infection applications. Int J Mol Sci 2010; 11(3): 789-806.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms11030789] [PMID: 20479986]
[28]
Metri KG, Naoroibam R, Bhargav H, Nagaratna R, Nagendra HR. Effect of Integrated Yoga (IY) on psychological states and CD4 counts of HIV-1 infected Patients: A Randomized controlled pilot study. Int J Yoga 2016; 9(1): 57-61.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.171723] [PMID: 26865772]
[29]
Fan Y, Tang YY, Ma Y, Posner MI. Mucosal immunity modulated by integrative meditation in a dose-dependent fashion. J Altern Complement Med 2010; 16(2): 151-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0234] [PMID: 20105036]
[30]
Raghuram N, Vinay C, Chandrashekara S, et al. Influence of yoga on mood states, distress, quality of life and immune outcomes in early stage breast cancer patients undergoing surgery. Int J Yoga 2008; 1(1): 11-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.36789] [PMID: 21829279]
[31]
Lengacher CA, Kip KE, Post-White J, et al. Lymphocyte recovery after breast cancer treatment and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy. Biol Res Nurs 2013; 15(1): 37-47.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1099800411419245] [PMID: 22084404]
[32]
Davidson RJ, Kabat-Zinn J, Schumacher J, et al. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosom Med 2003; 65(4): 564-70.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.PSY.0000077505.67574.E3] [PMID: 12883106]
[33]
Chandwani KD, Perkins G, Nagendra HR, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of yoga in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32(10): 1058-65.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2012.48.2752] [PMID: 24590636]
[34]
Dayalan H, Subramanian S, Malligarjunan H, Elango T, Kochupillai V. Role of sudarshan kriya and pranayam on lipid profile and blood cell parameters during exam stress: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga 2012; 5(1): 21-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.91702] [PMID: 22346062]
[35]
Kant S, Kumar S, Mishra RK, Mishra S, Agnihotri S. Impact of yoga on biochemical profile of asthmatics: A randomized controlled study. Int J Yoga 2014; 7(1): 17-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.123473] [PMID: 25035603]
[36]
Chen L, Liu HG, Liu W, et al. [Analysis of clinical features of 29 patients with 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2020; 43(3): 203-8.
[PMID: 32164089]
[37]
Cade WT, Reeds DN, Mondy KE, et al. Yoga lifestyle intervention reduces blood pressure in HIV-infected adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors. HIV Med 2010; 11(6): 379-88.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1293.2009.00801.x] [PMID: 20059570]
[38]
Elsenbruch S, Langhorst J, Popkirowa K, et al. Effects of mind-body therapy on quality of life and neuroendocrine and cellular immune functions in patients with ulcerative colitis. Psychother Psychosom 2005; 74(5): 277-87.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000086318] [PMID: 16088265]
[39]
Arora S, Bhattacharjee J, Gopal A, Mondal S, Gandhi A. Effect of integrated yoga practices on immune responses in examination stress - A preliminary study. Int J Yoga 2011; 4(1): 26-32.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.78178] [PMID: 21654972]
[40]
Hidderley M, Holt M. A pilot randomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2004; 8(1): 61-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2003.09.003] [PMID: 15003745]
[41]
Sharma P, Poojary G, Dwivedi SN, Deepak KK. Effect of yoga-based intervention in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Int J Yoga Therap 2015; 25(1): 101-12.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.17761/1531-2054-25.1.101] [PMID: 26667293]
[42]
Vogler J, O’Hara L, Gregg J, Burnell F. The impact of a short-term iyengar yoga program on the health and well-being of physically inactive older adults. Int J Yoga Therap 2011; 21(1): 61-72.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.21.1.e15852u665l710r1] [PMID: 22398345]
[43]
Mishra A, Bentur SA, Thakral S, Garg R, Duggal B. The use of integrative therapy based on yoga and ayurveda in the treatment of a high-risk case of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 with multiple comorbidities: a case report. J Med Case Reports 2021; 15(1): 95.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13256-020-02624-1] [PMID: 33627186]
[44]
Yadav B, Rai A, Mundada PS, et al. Safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions and Yoga on long term effects of COVID-19: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22(1): 378.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05326-1] [PMID: 34082792]
[45]
Nugent NR, Brick L, Armey MF, Tyrka AR, Ridout KK, Uebelacker LA. Benefits of yoga on il-6: Findings from a randomized controlled trial of yoga for depression. Behav Med 2021; 47(1): 21-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2019.1604489] [PMID: 31141465]
[46]
Yadav R, Yadav RK, Khadgawat R, Pandey RM. Comparative efficacy of a 12 week yoga-based lifestyle intervention and dietary intervention on adipokines, inflammation, and oxidative stress in adults with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Transl Behav Med 2019; 9(4): 594-604.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby060] [PMID: 30020512]
[47]
Huang C, Wang Y, Xingwang L. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019; 395(10223): 497-506.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5] [PMID: 31986264]
[48]
Zeng F, Huang Y, Guo Y, et al. Association of inflammatory markers with the severity of COVID-19: A meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 96: 467-74.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.055] [PMID: 32425643]
[49]
Bushell W, Castle R, Williams MA, et al. Meditation and yoga practices as potential adjunctive treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: a brief overview of key subjects. J Alter Compl Med 2014; 9(7): e100903.
[PMID: 24988414]
[50]
Yeun YR, Kim SD. Effects of yoga on immune function: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021; 44: 101446.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101446] [PMID: 34265577]
[51]
Jenefer Jerrin R, Theebika S, Panneerselvam P, Venkateswaran ST, Manavalan N, Maheshkumar K. Yoga and naturopathy intervention for reducing anxiety and depression of COVID-19 patients – A pilot study. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health 2021; 11: 100800.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100800] [PMID: 34095613]
[52]
Raghuram N, Anand A, Rain M, et al. Yoga practise is beneficial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and endurance under restrictions and stress imposed by lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12: 613762.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.613762] [PMID: 34239456]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy