Yoga and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adults : A Short Narrative Review

Chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation, and it is increasingly used as a complementary approach for stress, sleep, mobility, and quality of life. This narrative review summarizes the literature on yoga and inflammatory biomarkers in adults. Relevant studies were identified through searches of PubMed and Google Scholar. The markers examined included C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Randomized trials in breast-cancer survivors, patients with chronic heart failure, and industrial workers reported favorable changes in selected markers, and an observational study found lower resting cytokine levels in long-term practitioners. The findings are inconsistent, however, because studies differ in participants, yoga methods, intervention length, comparison groups, and laboratory procedures. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 randomized trials found no statistically significant pooled effect of yoga on IL-6, TNF-α, or CRP, and 24 of the trials had a high risk of bias. Yoga may therefore be a useful complementary approach for stress reduction and well-being, with possible anti-inflammatory benefits. The evidence does not support it as a treatment for systemic inflammation, and it should not replace medical care. Larger, standardized trials with active comparison groups are needed.