Brain, Behavior, and Immunity | 2019
Abstract # 3160 Effects of two-week smartphone-based mindfulness training on markers of inflammation: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Mindfulness interventions, which train people to monitor present-moment experience with a lens of acceptance, are inconsistently associated with reductions in systemic inflammation. Here, we examine the impact of brief mindfulness training on circulating CRP and IL-6, explore treatment response in subgroups at risk for heightened inflammation, and test acceptance training as a mechanism of these effects. 153 stressed community adults were randomly assigned to one of three 14-lesson smartphone-based interventions: (1) training in both monitoring and acceptance (MA), (2) training in monitoring only (MO), or (3) active control training. Dried blood spots collected at pre- and post-intervention were assayed for CRP and IL-6. Contrary to predictions, there were no significant pre- to post-intervention changes in CRP or IL-6 across or between groups. In exploratory subgroup analyses, MA training reduced CRP among both midlife (40–65\u202fyears; N\u202f=\u202f41) and overweight participants (BMI > \u202f=\u202f25; N\u202f=\u202f64). Specifically, among midlife participants, MA reduced CRP compared to control (p\u202f=\u202f.01, d\u202f=\u202f0.47) but not MO (p\u202f=\u202f.57, d\u202f=\u202f0.08). Among overweight participants, MA reduced CRP compared to both MO (p\u202f=.04, d\u202f=\u202f0.24) and control (p\u202f=\u202f.01, d\u202f=\u202f0.35). There were no condition differences in these subgroups on changes in IL-6. Overall, two-week mindfulness training did not reduce markers of inflammation in a stressed but otherwise healthy population. Exploratory analyses suggest that this brief mindfulness intervention may reduce CRP in high-risk subgroups, and that acceptance is key for these effects.