PMID- 25120574 OWN - NLM STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE DCOM- 20140814 LR - 20220330 IS - 1741-427X (Print) IS - 1741-4288 (Electronic) IS - 1741-427X (Linking) VI - 2014 DP - 2014 TI - Effect of yoga on pain, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and serotonin in premenopausal women with chronic low back pain. PG - 203173 LID - 10.1155/2014/203173 [doi] LID - 203173 AB - 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. FAU - Lee, Moseon AU - Lee M AD - Graduate School of Alternative Medicine, Kyonggi University, 24 Kyonggidae-ro 9-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-702, Republic of Korea. FAU - Moon, Woongjoon AU - Moon W AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-7898-2249 AD - Division of General Studies, Seoil University, Yongmasan-ro 90-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul 131-702, Republic of Korea. FAU - Kim, Jaehee AU - Kim J AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-1076-1095 AD - Graduate School of Alternative Medicine, Kyonggi University, 24 Kyonggidae-ro 9-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-702, Republic of Korea. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20140710 PL - United States TA - Evid Based Complement Alternat Med JT - Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM JID - 101215021 PMC - PMC4120477 EDAT- 2014/08/15 06:00 MHDA- 2014/08/15 06:01 PMCR- 2014/07/10 CRDT- 2014/08/15 06:00 PHST- 2014/02/28 00:00 [received] PHST- 2014/06/24 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2014/06/26 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2014/08/15 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2014/08/15 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2014/08/15 06:01 [medline] PHST- 2014/07/10 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1155/2014/203173 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:203173. doi: 10.1155/2014/203173. Epub 2014 Jul 10.