title: Yoga stretching for improving salivary immune function and mental stress in middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: Protection against age-related immune suppression is important in elderly individuals. This study determined the effect of yoga on mucosal immune function and mental stress. Saliva samples were collected from 23 adult women (age: 60.4 ± 10.4 years) before and after 90 minutes of yoga stretching or rest to measure secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cortisol, and testosterone. The SIgA concentration and secretion rate were significantly higher after yoga than before (p < .05). The cortisol concentration and secretion rate were lower and testosterone secretion rate higher after yoga (p < .05). Yoga stretching can reduce stress and enhance mucosal immune function in elderly women.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokorozawa , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eda
authors.affiliation: b Graduate School of Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokorozawa , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Hironaga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: c Department of Sports Science , Japan Institute of Sports Sciences , Kita-ku , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: d Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokorozawa , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: d Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokorozawa , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Eunjae
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Sport Sciences , Waseda University , Tokorozawa , Saitama , Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000502:physiology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; elderly; secretory immunoglobulin A; testosterone; yoga