Table 1.
Randomized controlled trials reporting the effects of mindfulness meditation on immune system parameters
| Reference | Main purpose of study | Analysis sample (n) | Comparator/control group | Participants | Intervention description | Specimen collection | Immune-related findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett et al.;24 Hayney et al.44 | Test effect of mindful meditation or exercise on incidence, duration, and severity of acute respiratory infection illness | 149 | Moderate-intensity exercisea; waiting list | Older community adults; 82% female; ages 59.3 ± 6.6 years | MBSR-derived; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions | Nasal wash; blood (serum, PBMCs) with influenza vaccine | >IL-8; ~neutrophils; ~virus prevalence; ~IgA, ~IgG; ~IFN-γ; ~IL-10 |
| Black et al.12,75 | Test effect of mindful meditation or sleep hygiene on sleep quality in older adults | 49 | Sleep hygiene educationa | Community adults; 67% female; ages 66.3 ± 7.4 years | MAPs; 6 weekly 2-h group sessions | Blood (PBMCs) | <NF-κB (both groups) |
| Bower et al.37 | Test effect of mindful meditation on stress and depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer | 71 | Waiting list | Breast cancer patients; 100% female; ages 46.1 (± 28.4–60 range) years | MAPs; 6 weekly 2-h group sessions | Blood (PBMCs, plasma) | <NF-κB; >IFN-1; <IL-6 (dependent on practice dosage); ~CRP; ~sTNF-RII |
| Carlson et al.65 | Test effect of mindful meditation or group therapy/stress management on telomere length in distressed breast cancer survivors | 88 | Supportive-expressive group therapya; 1-day stress management seminar | Breast cancer survivors; 100% female; ages 54.4 ± 9.0 years | MBSR-derived; 8 weekly 1.5-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (WBCs) | >telomere length (trend for attenuated decrease when treatment groups combined vs. seminar) |
| Creswell et al.59 | Test effect of mindful meditation on CD4+ T lymphocyte declines in distressed HIV+ adults | 48 | 1-day stress education seminar | HIV-1+ community adults; 9% female; ages 40.0 ± 9.0 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (plasma) | >CD4+ T lymphocyte count (buffered decline vs. controls) |
| Creswell et al.38 | Test effect of mindful meditation on loneliness in older adults | 40 | Waiting list | Lonely older adults; 80% female; ages 64.4 ± 6.0 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (PBMCs, plasma) | <NF-κB; <CRP (trend); ~IL-6 |
| Daubenmier et al.67 | Test effect of mindful meditation on telomerase activity in overweight and obese women | 37 | Waiting list | Overweight/obese women; 100% female; ages not indicated | MBSR-derived; 9 weekly 2.5-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (PBMCs) | >telomerase activity (trend dependent on practice dosage) |
| Davidson et al.73 | Test effect of mindful meditation on brain and immune function | 41 | Waiting list | Corporate employees; 71% female; ages 36.0 (± 23–56 range) years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (serum) with influenza vaccine | >Influenza antibodies |
| Elsenbruch et al.43 | Test effect of mindful meditation + multimodality program on neuroendocrine and immune measures in patients with ulcerative colitis | 30 | Waiting list | Ulcerative colitis patients; 50% female; ages 42.9 ± 8.6 years | MBSR + mind–body program; 10 weekly 6-h group sessions | Blood (EDTA whole stimulated) | <TNF-α (trend) |
| Fogarty et al.46 | Test effect of mindful meditation on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients | 42 | Waiting list | Rheumatoid arthritis patients; 88% female; ages 52.0 ± 12.0 years | MBSR; 8 weekly group sessions; hours not indicated | Blood (serum) | ~CRP |
| Gonzalez-Garcia et al.60 | Test effect of mindful meditation on quality of life, emotional status, and immune status among long-term HIV patients | 35 | Usual care | HIV+ patients; 49% female; ages 49.4 ± 5.2 years | MBCT; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions | Blood (WBCs) | >CD4+ T lymphocyte count (up 3 months) |
| Jacobs et al.68 | Test effect of meditation practice on immune cell telomerase activity | 46 | Waiting list | Meditation retreat participants; 53% female; ages 49.0 (± 23–69 range) years | Mindfulness, compassion, and equanimity meditations; 3-month group residential retreat | Blood (PBMCs) | >telomerase activity |
| Jedel et al.39 | Test effect of mindful meditation on flare ups and quality of life in ulcerative colitis patients | 53 | Mind–body medicine coursea | Ulcerative colitis patients in remission; 56% female; ages 46.0 ± 12.8 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions | Blood (serum); stool | <CRP (among non-flared); ~IL-6; ~IL-8; >IL-10 (among flared); ~calprotectin |
| Lengacher et al.;45,66 | Test effect of mindful meditation on immune recovery following breast cancer recovery | 82; 124 respectively | Waiting list | Breast cancer patients; 100% female; ages 58.0 ± 9.0 years | MBSR-derived; 6 weekly 2-h sessions | Blood (WBCs) | >T cell activation; >IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio; >CD4+/CD8+ ratio (trend); ~CD3+, CD4+, CD8+; ~NK cells; ~B lymphocytes; >telomerase activity; ~telomere length |
| Malarkey et al.40 | Test effect of mindful meditation on inflammatory markers in workers with cardiovascular disease risk | 170 | Lifestyle education coursea | University faculty/staff with cardiovascular disease risk; 88% female; ages 51.0 (± 0.8 SE) years | MBSR-derived; 8 weekly 1-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (serum) | <CRP (trend); ~IL-6 |
| Moynihan et al.72 | Test effect of mindful meditation on brain function and antibody response in older adults | 201 | Waiting list | Older adults; 62% female; ages 73.3 ± 6.7 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2-h group sessions + retreat | Blood (serum) with KLH challenge | >IgG (immediate post); <IgG (24 weeks) |
| Oken et al.41 | Test feasibility of mindfulness meditation in a clinical trial design for a larger study among caregivers | 21 | Dementia education coursea; respite care | Community-dwelling caregivers; 76% female; ages 62.5 ± 11.6 years | MBCT-derived; 6 weekly 1.5-h group sessions | Blood (serum) | ~TNF-α; ~IL-6; ~CRP |
| Rosenkranz et al.25 | Test effect of mindful meditation on physiological stress and neurogenic inflammation responses | 49 | Health enhancement programa | Community volunteers; 80% female; ages 45.9 ± 10.9 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions + retreat | Skin (blister fluid) | <TNF-α (dependent on practice dosage); ~IL-8 |
| SeyedAlinaghi et al.61 | Test effect of mindful meditation on CD4+ T lymphocyte count in HIV patients | 171 | Education and support resources | HIV+ patients; 31% female; ages 35.1 ± 6.5 years | MBSR; 8 weekly 2.5-h group sessions | Blood (plasma) | >CD4+ T lymphocyte count (up to 6 months) |
| Zautra et al.42 | Test effect of mindful meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy on pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis | 137 | Cognitive behavioral therapya; arthritis education coursea | Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed; 68% female; ages 57.3 ± 15.3 years | MBSR/MBCT-derived; 8 weekly 2-h group sessions | Blood (PBMCs stimulated) | ~IL-6 |
a
Condition is comparable based on nonspecific treatment factors, such as time, attention, and group support.
Abbreviations: MBSR, mindfulness-based stress reduction; MAPs, mindful awareness practices; MBCT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; WBCs, white blood cells; KLH, keyhole limpet hemocyanin; <, decrease; >, increase; ~, null change; IL, interleukin; CRP, C-reactive protein; Ig, immunoglobulin; NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB; IFN, interferon; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; sTNF-RII, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor; Th, T helper; NK, natural killer.