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Effects of yoga exercise on salivary beta-defensin 2

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Abstract

Purpose

Yoga stretching can be done comfortably and easily by beginners and older adults to compensate for lack of exercise or poor health maintenance. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of yoga stretching on mucosal immune functions, primarily human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in saliva.

Methods

Fifteen healthy adults (age, 60.4 ± 8.0 years) participated in the study. Participants rested for 90 min on the first day and performed yoga for 90 min on the second day. Measurements were carried out before and after rest or yoga. Saliva samples were collected by chewing a sterile cotton at a frequency of 60 cycles per min. Salivary HBD-2 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

HBD-2 concentration after yoga stretching (165.4 ± 127.1 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that before yoga stretching (84.1 ± 63.4 pg/mL; p < 0.01). HBD-2 expression rate after yoga stretching (232.8 ± 192.9 pg/min) was significantly higher than that before yoga stretching (110.7 ± 96.8 pg/min; p < 0.01). HBD-2 concentration (p < 0.05) and HBD-2 expression rate (p < 0.01) at post on the second day (yoga) was significantly higher than that on the first day (rest). POMS score of anger-hostility was lower after yoga than before.

Conclusions

Yoga stretching for 90 min can increase salivary HBD-2 expression in older adults. Therefore, yoga stretching might be useful for older adults and athletes to maintain their health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan

    Nobuhiko Eda, Yoko Tanabe & Eunjae Lee

  2. Sports Research and Development Core, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan

    Kazuhiro Shimizu & Satomi Suzuki

  3. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan

    Takao Akama

Authors
  1. Nobuhiko Eda
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  2. Kazuhiro Shimizu
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  3. Satomi Suzuki
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  4. Yoko Tanabe
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  5. Eunjae Lee
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  6. Takao Akama
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nobuhiko Eda.

Additional information

Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Eda, N., Shimizu, K., Suzuki, S. et al. Effects of yoga exercise on salivary beta-defensin 2. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2621–2627 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2703-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2703-y

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