Tai Chi Research » Immune System

Tai chi is found to augment the immune response to the varicella zoster virus.

David Bendall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:38:58 +0000

Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles studied the effects of tai chi on resting and vaccine-stimulated levels of cell-mediated immunity to the varicella zoster virus and on health functioning in older adults. 112 healthy adults over aged 59 to 86 were randomly assigned to receive 25 weeks of tai chi or health education. After 16 weeks both groups were vaccinated with the VARIVAX vaccine, which is licensed to prevent varicella, the virus that causes shingles. The tai chi group was found to have significantly higher levels of varicella cell-mediated immunity than the health education group. Tai chi alone induced an increase in varicella cell-mediated immunity that was comparable in magnitude with that induced by the varicella vaccine alone. The combination of tai chi and vaccine resulted in a substantially higher cell-mediated immunity than the vaccine alone. The tai chi group also had significant improvements in several secondary measures; physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health.

Abstract

Tai chi improves antibody response to influenza vaccine in older adults.

David Bendall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:49:45 +0000

Researchers at the University of Illinois citing previous studies that suggest that tai chi improves immune function designed a study to examine whether 5 months of tai chi and qigong practice could improve the immune response to influenza vaccine in older adults. Subjects received the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine during the 1st week of intervention. Blood samples were collected 3, 6 and 20 weeks after intervention for analysis for signs of antibody response. The findings indicate a significant increase in the magnitude and duration of the antibody response to the influenza vaccine in the tai chi group compared to controls.

Abstract

Regular tai chi exercise improves T cell helper function in type 2 diabetics.

David Bendall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:27:48 +0000

Researchers in Taiwan carried out a case-control study of 30 pairs of type 2 diabetics to investigate the effects of a 12-week course in tai chi exercise on T cell helper reaction in type 2 diabetics. After 12-weeks of tai chi the tai chi group had decrease HbA1c levels and increased T cell helper reaction. This indicates that a combination of tai chi along with medication may be beneficial both to metabolism and immunity in type 2 diabetics.

Abstract

Functional mobility and regulatory T cell function enhanced after tai chi program.

David Bendall — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:30 +0000

Researchers at the Chang Gung Institute of Technology in Kaohsiung Taiwan investigated the effect of a 12-week tai chi program on functional mobility, self reported health benefits and immune regulation among 37 middle-aged adults volunteers from the community. Participants were tested before and after the tai chi program. There was a significant positive effect on functional mobility and beliefs about the benefits of exercise. Furthermore there were signs of enhanced regulatory T cell function.

Abstract

Regular moderate physical activity can prevent the neuroendocrine and detrimental immunological effects of stress.

David Bendall — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:01:18 +0000

Dr. Fleshner of the University of Colorado in Boulder writes in the May 2000 edition of the International Journal of Sports Medicine that “clearly, functional interactions exist between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system that operate during the generation of normal in vivo immune responses” and presents data that supports the hypothesis that regular, moderate, physical activity can prevent the neuroendocrine and detrimental immunological effects of stress.

While this paper does not specifically talk about tai chi, it is relevant to tai chi research since it suggests a mechanism by which tai chi, which is a moderate physical activity, could help reduce the detrimental effects of stress, which is widely reported among people who practice tai chi. Furthermore link between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system suggest that an exercise such as tai chi that promotes relaxation during exercise could be especially beneficial to the immune system.

Abstract

Tai chi exercise decreases A1C levels along with increases in regulatory T-Cell levels.

David Bendall — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:37:08 +0000

Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taiwan 2007

The authors of this study recruited 39 type 2 diabetic patients to participate in a 12-week tai chi program to investigate its effect on the metabolism of blood glucose and lymphocyte subpopulations. 32 patients completed the study. Researchers found that there was a significant decrease in A1C correlated to change of lymphocyte subpopulations. In particular levels of interleukin-12 and CD4CD25 regulatory T-lymphocytes increased.

Tai chi chuan exercise decreases A1C levels along with increase of regulatory T-Cells and Decrease of Cytotoxe.