Yoga can significantly improve the health of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, revealed a new study from AIIMS, New Delhi.
The collaborative study by Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Anatomy Department, and Department of Rheumatology AIIMS, New Delhi, supported by DST, explored the effects of yoga at a cellular and molecular level in RA patients and how yoga may benefit RA patients beyond just pain relief.
RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. It causes joint damage and pain and can affect other organ system as well like lung, heart and brain.
Researchers have discovered that yoga lowers inflammation by controlling cellular damage and oxidative stress (OS). It balances pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, raises endorphin levels, and reduces cortisol and CRP levels and maintains melatonin rhythms. This facilitates the disruption of the inflammatory and hyperactive immune system cycle.
Dr. Rima Dada and her team at the Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Anatomy Department, AIIMS, supported by DST, documented reduced pain perception, improved joint mobility, decreased disability, and enhanced overall quality of life for patients performing yoga. These benefits were attributed to yoga’s ability to establish immunological tolerance and molecular remission.
A total of 105 individuals were screened for eligibility, out of which 64 were randomized into 2 groups (each group n = 32). They were made to undergo 120 minutes of yoga for eight weeks at the conclusion of which, the study findings highlighted that yoga possesses an immune-modulatory potential which induces molecular remission and reestablishes immunological tolerance in RA by influencing its pathobiology by optimizing inflammatory markers, maintaining immune-homeostasis, reducing the rate of immune-aging and improving RA health outcome.
The eight weeks of yoga practice significantly reduced disease activity, maintained Th17/Treg cell homeostasis and reduced inflammatory processes by optimizing the levels of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines with changes in gene expression patterns.
The eight weeks of yoga practice significantly reduced disease activity, maintained Th17/Treg cell homeostasis and reduced inflammatory processes by optimizing the levels of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines with changes in gene expression patterns.
By boosting the activity of the telomerase enzyme and genes involved in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation at a molecular level, the practise of yoga slows down the aging process of cells. Additionally, yoga improves mitochondrial function, which guards against telomere attrition and DNA damage by enhancing energy metabolism and lowering oxidative stress.
The study published in Scientific Reports, 2023 shows that yoga may help manage stress, a known trigger for RA symptoms.
This research provides evidence for the potential of yoga as a complementary therapy for RA patients by not just managing the symptoms like pain and stiffness but also contributes to disease control and improved quality of life. Unlike drugs, yoga has no side effects and offers a cost-effective, natural alternative for managing severe autoimmune conditions.
Publication link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42231-w