ArticleEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2014
Effect of yoga on pain, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and serotonin in premenopausal women with chronic low back pain.
Article in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 82 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chronic mind-body exercises for executive functions in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2026Pooled it
- Yoga for chronic non-specific low back pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Optimal modes of mind-body exercise for treating chronic non-specific low back pain: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Biological Mechanisms and Chronic Pain Outcomes During Stress Reduction Interventions.Biological research for nursing · 2020Pooled it
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials.Frontiers in psychology · 2020Pooled it
- Yoga treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Contributions of yoga and aerobic exercise to acute changes in state affect, circulating BDNF and eCB concentrations, and memory.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2026Trial
- Mind-Body Interventions as Modulators of Neural Connectivity and Cognition in Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.Annals of neurosciences · 2026Review
- Chronic Pain and Cognitive Dysfunction: Clinical Implement, Mechanism, and Therapeutic Strategy.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2026Review
- Effects of heartfulness and bell meditation on brain activities and autonomic function in university students: An exploratory study.Journal of education and health promotion · 2026Article
- Effect of Yoga-based Interventions on Heart Rate Variability and Anxiety Among Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Annals of neurosciences · 2025Review
- The Role of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Chronic Pain: Links to Central Sensitization and Neuroinflammation.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Subjective assessment and biochemical evaluation of traction therapy in women with chronic low back pain: does body mass index matter? A clinical study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
- Effect of Different Physical Therapy Interventions on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Patients: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Hatha yoga is more effective in improving kinesiophobia and subjective well-being when combined with self-compassion meditation in people with CLBP: a randomized control trial.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Immune-Related Diseases: A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
- How mind-body therapies might reduce pathological features of Alzheimer's disease.Neural regeneration research · 2022Article
- A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of yoga as an adjuvant therapy for patients with Ankylosing spondylitis amidst COVID-19 pandemic.Advances in integrative medicine · 2022Article
- Movement-Based Therapies in Rehabilitation.Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background. Serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are known to be modulators of nociception. However, pain-related connection between yoga and those neuromodulators has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of yoga on pain, BDNF, and serotonin. Methods. Premenopausal women with chronic low back pain practiced yoga three times a week for 12 weeks. At baseline and after 12 weeks, back pain intensity was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS), and serum BDNF and serotonin levels were evaluated. Additionally, back flexibility and level of depression were assessed. Results. After 12-week yoga, VAS decreased in the yoga group (P < 0.001), whereas it increased (P < 0.05) in the control group. Back flexibility was improved in the yoga group (P < 0.01). Serum BDNF increased in the yoga group (P < 0.01), whereas it tended to decrease in the control group (P = 0.05). Serum serotonin maintained in the yoga group, while it reduced (P < 0.01) in the control group. The depression level maintained in the yoga group, whereas it tended to increase in the control group (P = 0.07). Conclusions. We propose that BDNF may be one of the key factors mediating beneficial effects of yoga on chronic low back pain.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.