Peer-Reviewed Research: The Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong on Immune Responses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis titled "The Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong on Immune Responses" by Byeongsang Oh et al. explores the impacts of Tai Chi (TC) and Qigong (QG) on immune system functioning and inflammation.
Methods
The authors conducted electronic searches on databases such as Medline, PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect, focusing on studies involving TC or QG and their effects on immune function and inflammatory biomarkers. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with at least 30 participants and an intervention period of at least four weeks. The meta-analysis utilized random-effects models to pool data from various studies, assessing changes in immune cells and inflammatory biomarkers.
Results
The review incorporated 19 RCTs, comprising 1686 participants with an age range of 18 to 87 years. These studies were conducted in diverse countries including the USA, China, Taiwan, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong, and Thailand. The meta-analysis revealed that TC and QG interventions had a small but significant effect on increasing immune cells (SMD, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.43, p = 0.00). However, there was no significant effect on reducing inflammation levels (SMD, -0.15; 95% CI, -0.39 to 0.09, p = 0.21).
Immune System Effects
The meta-analysis indicated that TC and QG interventions significantly increased the levels of immune cells, including dendritic cells (SMD, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.62, p = 0.04). However, the effects on natural killer (NK) cells were not significant (SMD, 0.00; 95% CI, -0.64 to 0.64, p = 0.99). For adaptive immune cells, there was a small effect on increasing levels (SMD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.51, p = 0.01). Specific immune cell responses such as the proportion of B lymphocytes showed a significant moderate effect (SMD, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.83).
Inflammatory Biomarkers
The review found mixed results for inflammatory biomarkers. While there was a trend towards reduced levels of inflammation, the overall effect was not significant. Subgroup analyses showed that TC and QG had a small effect on reducing levels of CRP (SMD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.70 to 0.11, p = 0.16) and IL-6 (SMD, -0.38; 95% CI, -0.13 to 0.36, I2 = 85%), but these findings were not consistent across all studies.
Risk of Bias
The review assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool, finding a mix of low, some concerns, and high risk of bias across the included studies. The measurement of outcomes generally had a low risk of bias, but missing outcome data was a concern in many studies.
Discussion
The findings of this review suggest that TC and QG have a physiologic impact on immune system functioning, particularly in enhancing immune cell levels. The non-significant effect on inflammatory responses may be due to the bidirectional regulation of cytokines, which can be influenced by various factors. The review highlights the need for more rigorous studies with standardized protocols to better understand the clinical applications of TC and QG.
Conclusion
Overall, the review indicates that TC and QG can positively influence immune function, although their impact on inflammation is less clear. These practices may offer beneficial preventive health measures, particularly for enhancing immune responses. Further research is needed to establish clinical guidelines and optimize the use of TC and QG for health promotion and disease prevention.
Reference
Oh, B., Bae, K., Lamoury, G., Eade, T., Boyle, F., Corless, B., Clarke, S., Yeung, A., Rosenthal, D., Schapira, L., & Back, M. (2020). The effects of Tai Chi and Qigong on immune responses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicines, 7(39), 1-21.
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