A 24-week Tai Chi intervention significantly reduced blood pressure and improved key neuro-endocrine-immune indicators in patients with primary hypertension.
RCT (n=105)
randomly assigned
Does standardized Tai Chi training reduce blood pressure and improve NEI-related biomarkers in patients with primary hypertension?
Tai Chi offers significant advantages in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension by reshaping the neuro-endocrine-immune network.
ABSTRACT Hypertension is a common chronic disease whose core pathological mechanism involves dysregulation of the neuro–endocrine–immune (NEI) network. In recent years, Tai Chi has been considered a potentially valuable intervention for chronic diseases; however, the biological mechanisms by which it regulates the NEI network remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of standardized Tai Chi training on blood pressure and NEI‐related biomarkers in patients with primary hypertension and compared these effects with those of an equivalent aerobic exercise intervention. A total of 105 patients were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group, an aerobic exercise group, or a control group, and underwent a 24‐week intervention. Multiple statistical approaches, including linear mixed‐effects models, principal component analysis (PCA), and structural equation modeling (SEM), were applied to systematically analyze intervention effects. Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis showed that Tai Chi intervention significantly reduced blood pressure while concurrently improving key NEI indicators such as acetylcholine, GABA, cortisol, and TNF‐α, demonstrating a coordinated “stress‐reduction–anti‐inflammatory” effect. Structural equation modeling further confirmed “acetylcholine → cortisol → TNF‐α → SBP” as a key mediating pathway. These findings indicate that Tai Chi exerts significant advantages in the non‐pharmacological management of hypertension by reshaping the NEI network, highlighting its important scientific and practical significance. Trial Registration: International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry: ITMCTR2024000813
Fang et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in primary hypertension (n=105). Tai Chi training vs. aerobic exercise or control was evaluated on blood pressure and NEI-related biomarkers. A 24-week Tai Chi intervention significantly reduced blood pressure and improved key neuro-endocrine-immune indicators in patients with primary hypertension.