Meditation or exercise for preventing acute respiratory infection (MEPARI-2): A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPractice of meditation or exercise may enhance health to protect against acute infectious illness.ObjectiveTo assess preventive effects of meditation and exercise on acute respiratory infection (ARI) illness.DesignRandomized controlled prevention trial with three parallel groups.SettingMadison, Wisconsin, USA.ParticipantsCommunity-recruited adults who did not regularly exercise or meditate.Methods1) 8-week behavioral training in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); 2) matched 8-week training in moderate intensity sustained exercise (EX); or 3) observational waitlist control. Training classes occurred in September and October, with weekly ARI surveillance through May. Incidence, duration, and area-under-curve ARI global severity were measured using daily reports on the WURSS-24 during ARI illness. Viruses were identified multiplex PCR. Absenteeism, health care utilization, and psychosocial health self-report assessments were also employed.ResultsOf 413 participants randomized, 390 completed the trial. In the MBSR group, 74 experienced 112 ARI episodes with 1045 days of ARI illness. Among exercisers, 84 had 120 episodes totaling 1010 illness days. Eighty-two of the controls had 134 episodes with 1210 days of ARI illness. Mean global severity was 315 for MBSR (95% confidence interval 244, 386), 256 (193, 318) for EX, and 336 (268, 403) for controls. A prespecified multivariate zero-inflated regression model suggested reduced incidence for MBSR (p = 0.036) and lower global severity for EX (p = 0.042), compared to control, not quite attaining the p<0.025 prespecified cut-off for null hypothesis rejection. There were 73 ARI-related missed-work days and 22 ARI-related health care visits in the MBSR group, 82 days and 21 visits for exercisers, and 105 days and 24 visits among controls. Viruses were identified in 63 ARI episodes in the MBSR group, compared to 64 for EX and 72 for control. Statistically significant (p<0.05) improvements in general mental health, self-efficacy, mindful attention, sleep quality, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were observed in the MBSR and/or EX groups, compared to control.ConclusionsTraining in mindfulness meditation or exercise may help protect against ARI illness.LimitationsThis trial was likely underpowered.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01654289

Mindfulness versus Physical Exercise: Effects of Two Recovery Strategies on Mental Health, Stress and Immunoglobulin A during Lunch Breaks. A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…With regard to sIgA, as mentioned previously, no significant differences have been observed between the practice of MM and PE regarding the immunocompetence of IgA, in any of the conducted analyses. Thus, our results are in line with those of other authors who also compared the effects of IgA in MM and PE after inoculation with the flu vaccine [16,72,87,90]. They are also consistent with trials that only analysed IgA in MM, such as the systematic review undertaken by Black and Slaich [15].…”

“…Other studies have established longer intervals between measures, of weeks or even months depending on the pre-test and post-test of the intervention. In these cases, sIgA concentrations appear unaffected by the practice [15,16,[72][73][74].…”

Can moderate intensity aerobic exercise be an effective and valuable therapy in preventing and controlling the pandemic of COVID-19?

“…A randomized controlled trial evaluating the preventive effect of aerobic exercises on acute respiratory illness found that participants in exercise group reported lesser episodes of illness compared to participants with sedentary lifestyles. The severity index and total days of illness (duration) showed a lower trend for the exercise group as compared to control [6]. The trial also revealed a decrease in interleukin-8 factor and increase in mean levels of neutrophils in the exercise group.…”

“…The trial also revealed a decrease in interleukin-8 factor and increase in mean levels of neutrophils in the exercise group. It was also reported that the immunoprotective effect of aerobic exercise can also improve antibody responses to influenza vaccination in sedentary elderly [6] (refer Table 1).…”

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Biomarkers and Low-Grade Inflammation in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-Analytic Review

“…With regard to the scope of the study of mindfulness and its effects on neuroinflammation, the biomarkers that have been examined are the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) [23][24][25][26], IL-8 [23,27], TNF-α [24][25][26] and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) [28][29][30]; the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 [28] and IL-10 [24]; neuropeptides, such as neuropeptide Y [31]; and CRP [27,32]. In addition, although low-grade inflammation is generally determined by increased levels of high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP) [33,34], it is also reflected by increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins, such as CRP [35].…”