Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41634677›Full record

Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026

Tai Chi rehabilitation program enhances blood pressure control and modulates inflammatory and Brain-Gut peptides in hypertension.

Hui Fang, Jianwei Zhang, Qingshan Zhou, Lujia Li, Meize Cui, Cuihan Li, Shaojun Lyu

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hui Fang *College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekou Wai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
Jianwei Zhang *College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekou Wai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
Qingshan ZhouBoshan District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Zibo, 255200, Shandong Province, China.
Lujia Li, Tianjin University of Sport, School of Social Sports, Tianjin, 301617, China.
Meize Cui, Teaching and Research Department of Police Physical Education, The National Police University for Criminal Justice, Baoding, 071000, China.
Cuihan LiCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekou Wai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China.
Shaojun LyuCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekou Wai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China. l13121860699@163.com.

Funding

Beijing Natural Science Foundation" of JianweiZhang 7244482
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHypertension (HTN), a chronic inflammatory condition, is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines and brain-gut peptides contributes to its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Tai Chi rehabilitation program on blood pressure, inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10)], and brain-gut peptides [neurotensin (NT), gastrin (GAS)] in patients with HTN, hypothesizing that Tai Chi would improve these parameters compared with Fitness exercise or no intervention.

methodsA randomized controlled trial enrolled 105 patients with HTN and coronary heart disease. Participants were randomized into the Tai Chi group (n = 35), Fitness group (n = 35), or Blank group (n = 35). The intervention lasted 24 weeks (3 sessions per week, 60 min per session, 40-60% heart rate reserve). Blood pressure and serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, NT, and GAS were measured before and after the intervention using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 27, applying paired t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation.

resultsNinety participants completed the study (Tai Chi group: 31, Fitness group: 28, Blank group: 31). The Tai Chi group showed significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and IL-6 (p < 0.001), along with increases in IL-10, NT, and GAS (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. Compared with the Fitness group, the Tai Chi group achieved greater increases in NT and GAS (p < 0.05). Compared with the Blank group, the Tai Chi group demonstrated superior reductions in SBP and IL-6 (p < 0.05). Reductions in IL-6 were negatively correlated with increases in NT and GAS (p < 0.001).

conclusionTai Chi rehabilitation lowered systolic blood pressure, reduced inflammation, and improved brain-gut peptides, supporting its role as a complementary therapy for hypertension. The modest sample size, 14.3% dropout rate, and recruitment from two hospitals may limit generalizability, and larger multi-center studies with longer follow-up are needed.

trial registrationThe trial was registered with the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ITMCTR2024000813; registration date: 2024/12/13).

Indexed as

Blood PressureCytokinesHypertensionTai JiAgedFemaleHumansInterleukin-10Interleukin-6MaleMiddle AgedNeurotensinCytokinesInterleukin-10Interleukin-6NeurotensinBrain-Gut peptidesComplementary therapyHypertensionInflammationRandomized controlled trialTai chi

Identifiers

PMID41634677
PMCPMC12958553

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.