Clinical trial NCT00745303: Effect of Tai Chi Chuan on Autonomic Nervous Modulation in Aged Subjects
Official title: Effect of Tai Chi Chuan on Autonomic Nervous Modulation, Blood Lipid and Cytokines Production in Aged Subjects
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Healthy Subjects
Keywords: Tai Chi Chuan; Lipid; Cytokine
Lead sponsor: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
Collaborators: name: National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
First posted: 2008-09-03
Enrollment: 50
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 50
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Healthy aged subjects

Brief summary: Since Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) training has been shown to be beneficial to the cardiopulmonary function of the subject, TCC might have a beneficial effect on the pulmonary function, autonomic nervous modulation, lipid profile, and cytokines production in the aged subjects.

Detailed description: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a traditional Oriental conditioning exercise or calisthenics that is believed by many people around the world to be good for the health. The frequently claimed reason for this merit of TCC is that it can improve the cardiopulmonary function and immunity of the subject who practice it continuously. TCC has been shown to delay the decline of aerobic power, improve the cardiopulmonary function, balance and strength of the subjects. One study has demonstrated that TCC could reduce tension, anxiety, and mood disturbance. However, few studies have examined the effect of TCC on the blood lipid profile and immunity of the TCC practitioners. Another study reported that 12-week programme of regular TCC exercise enhanced functional mobility, personal health expectations, and regulatory T cell function. It has also been shown that an appropriate combination of TCC exercise program with diabetic medication might improve both glucose metabolism and immunity in type 2 diabetic patients. Since TCC training has been shown to be beneficial to the cardiopulmonary function of the subject, TCC may also have an effect on the blood lipid profile and immunity of the subjects. We hypothesize that TCC might have a beneficial effect on the pulmonary function, autonomic nervous modulation, lipid profile, and cytokines production in the aged subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether or not TCC have these effects in the aged subjects.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* All subjects included in this study had normal lifestyles, and were capable of daily activities without limitations.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who had major cardiopulmonary disease or were on regular medicine for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal or liver disease were not included in the study.

Primary outcomes:
measure: TCC training for 3 months can improve the pulmonary function, glucose availability and lipid profile, and increase the cytokines production and vagal modulation in aged subjects.
timeFrame: 3 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Other effects of TCC observed
timeFrame: 3 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Taipei
country: Taiwan
facility: Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
name: Cheng-Deng Kuo, MD,PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Lu WA, Kuo CD. The effect of Tai Chi Chuan on the autonomic nervous modulation in older persons. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Dec;35(12):1972-6. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000099242.10669.F7.