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The Effects of Mind-Body Therapies on the Immune System: Meta-Analysis

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  • Nani Morgan
  • Michael R Irwin
  • Mei Chung
  • Chenchen Wang

Abstract

Importance: Psychological and health-restorative benefits of mind-body therapies have been investigated, but their impact on the immune system remain less defined. Objective: To conduct the first comprehensive review of available controlled trial evidence to evaluate the effects of mind-body therapies on the immune system, focusing on markers of inflammation and anti-viral related immune responses. Methods: Data sources included MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO through September 1, 2013. Randomized controlled trials published in English evaluating at least four weeks of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, or Yoga that reported immune outcome measures were selected. Studies were synthesized separately by inflammatory (n = 18), anti-viral related immunity (n = 7), and enumerative (n = 14) outcomes measures. We performed random-effects meta-analyses using standardized mean difference when appropriate. Results: Thirty-four studies published in 39 articles (total 2, 219 participants) met inclusion criteria. For inflammatory measures, after 7 to 16 weeks of mind-body intervention, there was a moderate effect on reduction of C-reactive protein (effect size [ES], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 1.12), a small but not statistically significant reduction of interleukin-6 (ES, 0.35; 95% CI, −0.04 to 0.75), and negligible effect on tumor necrosis factor-α (ES, 0.21; 95% CI, −0.15 to 0.58). For anti-viral related immune and enumerative measures, there were negligible effects on CD4 counts (ES, 0.15; 95% CI, −0.04 to 0.34) and natural killer cell counts (ES, 0.12, 95% CI −0.21 to 0.45). Some evidence indicated mind-body therapies increase immune responses to vaccination. Conclusions: Mind-body therapies reduce markers of inflammation and influence virus-specific immune responses to vaccination despite minimal evidence suggesting effects on resting anti-viral or enumerative measures. These immunomodulatory effects, albeit incomplete, warrant further methodologically rigorous studies to determine the clinical implications of these findings for inflammatory and infectious disease outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Nani Morgan & Michael R Irwin & Mei Chung & Chenchen Wang, 2014. "The Effects of Mind-Body Therapies on the Immune System: Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0100903
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100903
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    Cited by:

    1. Ovidiu Popa-Velea & Alexandra Ioana Mihăilescu & Liliana Veronica Diaconescu & Iuliana Raluca Gheorghe & Adela Magdalena Ciobanu, 2021. "Meaning in Life, Subjective Well-Being, Happiness and Coping at Physicians Attending Balint Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Hyun-Jeong Yang & Noriko Setou & Eugene Koh, 2022. "Utilization of Mind–Body Intervention for Integrative Health Care of COVID-19 Patients and Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Eric Lopez-Maya & Richard Olmstead & Michael R Irwin, 2019. "Mindfulness meditation and improvement in depressive symptoms among Spanish- and English speaking adults: A randomized, controlled, comparative efficacy trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Daria Schneider-Matyka & Edyta Skwirczyńska & Maria Gaur & Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz & Sebastian Kwiatkowski & Marzena Mikla & Elżbieta Grochans & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska, 2022. "Evaluation of the Influence of Biological Factors during the Course of Treatment in Patients with Ovarian Cancer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, August.

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