EFFECT OF YOGA ON INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND HEART FAILURE

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF) are leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, with inflammation recognized as a central mechanism driving disease progression, adverse cardiac remodeling, and poor clinical outcomes. Elevated circulating inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and various interleukins, have been identified as independent predictors of cardiovascular risk and mortality. In recent years, yoga has emerged as a promising, evidence-based mind–body intervention with potential immunomodulatory and cardioprotective effects. This review aimed to evaluate the impact of yoga on inflammatory markers in patients with MI and HF. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases was conducted from inception to July 21, 2025. Randomized controlled trials involving human participants that assessed yoga interventions and reported inflammatory or immune-related outcomes were included. The primary outcomes comprised CRP, TNF-α, interleukins, cytokines, and total leukocyte count. Evidence from the included studies suggests that yoga may attenuate systemic inflammation by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary adrenal axis, reducing sympathetic overactivity, enhancing glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity, and suppressing pro inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB. In HF populations, yoga interventions were associated with reductions in inflammatory biomarkers, particularly IL-6 and CRP. At the same time, studies in post-MI patients demonstrated favorable effects on endothelial function, oxidative stress, and selected inflammatory indices. Nevertheless, interpretation of the findings is constrained by small sample sizes, heterogeneity in patient populations, variability in biomarker assessment, and differences in yoga protocols across studies. Despite these limitations, the available evidence indicates that yoga may serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional cardiovascular care by targeting inflammation, a fundamental pathological process in both MI and HF. Future large-scale, multicenter randomized trials with standardized interventions and long-term clinical endpoints are warranted to establish the role of yoga in contemporary cardiovascular rehabilitation.