Workplace based mindfulness practice and inflammation: A randomized trial

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 145 - 154
• Main Authors: Malarkey, William B., Jarjoura, David, Klatt, Maryanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular diseases; Clinical trials; Cortisol; CRP; Depression; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; IL-6; Inflammation; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - therapy; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Intervention; Male; Meditation - methods; Middle Aged; Mind-Body Therapies - methods; Mindfulness; Occupational Health Services - methods; Psychiatry; Randomized trial; Self Report; Sleep; Statistical analysis; Stress; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - metabolism; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Workplace; CRP; Intervention; Cortisol; Randomized trial; Inflammation; Mindfulness; IL-6
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.10.009

► A randomized mindfulness-based intervention performed in the workplace decreased CRP levels in overweight/obese participants. We have developed a low dose Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI-ld) that reduces the time committed to meetings and formal mindfulness practice, while conducting the sessions during the workday. This reduced the barriers commonly mentioned for non-participation in mindfulness programs. In a controlled randomized trial we studied university faculty and staff (n=186) who were found to have an elevated CRP level,>3.0mg/ml, and who either had, or were at risk for cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to evaluate if MBI-ld could produce a greater decrease in CRP, IL-6 and cortisol than an active control group receiving a lifestyle education program when measured at the end of the 2month interventions. We found that MBI-ld significantly enhanced mindfulness by 2-months and it was maintained for up to a year when compared to the education control. No significant changes were noted between interventions in cortisol, IL-6 levels or self-reported measures of perceived stress, depression and sleep quality at 2-months. Although not statistically significant (p=.08), the CRP level at 2-months was one mg/ml lower in the MBI-ld group than in the education control group, a change which may have clinical significance (Ridker et al., 2000; Wassel et al., 2010). A larger MBI-ld effect on CRP (as compared to control) occurred among participants who had a baseline BMI <30 (−2.67mg/ml) than for those with BMI >30 (−0.18mg/ml). We conclude that MBI-ld should be more fully investigated as a low-cost self-directed complementary strategy for decreasing inflammation, and it seems most promising for non-obese subjects.