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Mindfulness training and systemic low-grade inflammation in stressed community adults: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials.

PloS one
January 1, 2019
Daniella K Villalba et al. (11 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness training, particularly with an acceptance component, reduces inflammation (measured by CRP) in stressed adults.

Results Summary

Monitor+Accept mindfulness training did not reduce CRP as hypothesized, but exploratory analyses suggested potential CRP reductions in high-risk groups (midlife-to-older adults and individuals with high BMI).

Population

Stressed community adults, with exploratory focus on midlife-to-older adults and individuals with high BMI.

Effective Dosage

Not specified (interventions: 2-week smartphone-based and 8-week MBSR).

Duration

2 weeks (Study 1) and 8 weeks (Study 2).

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness training
decrease
psychological and physiological stress responses
-
-
can decrease
#1
mindfulness training
neutral
inflammation
-
-
impacts
#2
training individuals to have an accepting attitude towards present moment experiences
decrease
inflammation
-
-
can lead to decreases in
#3
Monitor+Accept training
decrease
the inflammatory biomarker C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
-
-
would lead to reductions in
#4
Monitor+Accept mindfulness training
no change
CRP
-
-
did not lead to reductions in
#5
both mindfulness interventions
decrease
CRP
populations at risk for systemic inflammation-midlife-to-older adults and individuals with high BMI
-
may reduce
#6
mindfulness interventions
decrease
systemic markers of low-grade inflammation
-
-
can reduce
#7
Abstract

Mindfulness interventions have garnered significant attention as a complementary health treatment for many physical and psychological conditions. While some research has shown that mindfulness training can decrease psychological and physiological stress responses, it remains unclear whether mindfulness training impacts inflammation-a predictor of poor health outcomes. In addition, little research has examined the active components of mindfulness that may drive health-related improvements. Here, we provide data from two 3-arm randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of mindfulness training on inflammation in stressed community adults. Specifically, we examined whether training individuals to have an accepting attitude towards present moment experiences is a key emotion regulation skill that can lead to decreases in inflammation. Both studies randomly assigned participants to one of three conditions: mindfulness training that taught both attention monitoring and acceptance skills (Monitor+Accept); mindfulness training teaching monitoring without the acceptance component (Monitor Only); or a control condition. Study 1 employed a novel 2-week smartphone-based intervention and Study 2 employed a standard 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention. We hypothesized that Monitor+Accept training would lead to reductions in the inflammatory biomarker C-Reactive Protein (CRP) compared to Monitor Only training and control groups. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found that Monitor+Accept mindfulness training did not lead to reductions in CRP. Exploratory analyses combining study subsamples, however, suggest that both mindfulness interventions may reduce CRP in populations at risk for systemic inflammation-midlife-to-older adults and individuals with high BMI. Overall, the present studies contribute significantly to the question of whether mindfulness interventions can reduce systemic markers of low-grade inflammation.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentAdultBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFemaleHumansInflammationMaleMiddle AgedMindfulnessResidence CharacteristicsSmartphoneStress, PhysiologicalStress, PsychologicalYoung Adult
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations39
Citations/Year6.5
Relative Citation Ratio2.68
NIH Percentile82.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.48
Normalized Score0.63
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