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The Efficacy of Tai Chi and Qigong Exercises on Blood Pressure and Blood Levels of Nitric Oxide and Endothelin-1 in Patients With Essential Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis of nine RCTs (516 adults) finds Tai Chi/Qigong lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure versus controls with parallel increases in blood nitric oxide and decreases in endothelin-1—mechanistic biomarker narrative alongside BP.
Design
- Meta-analysis of RCTs through 14 Jan 2020 (seven Chinese/English databases)
- Included trials: 9 RCTs, n = 516 adults with essential hypertension
- Intervention duration: ~1.5–6 months
Outcomes
- BP: pooled SBP and DBP reductions favouring Tai Chi/Qigong vs control (continuous meta-analysis in paper)
- Biomarkers: pooled higher blood NO and lower ET-1 with Tai Chi/Qigong vs control
Evidence hygiene
- Mechanistic biomarkers (NO / ET-1) do not by themselves prove long-term hard CV outcome reductions—read alongside Zhang et al. 2024 BP MA and drug trials if treating hypertension.
- Heterogeneity in forms, dose, and controls—inspect I² and sensitivity analyses.
Publication
Liu D, Yi L, Jin W, et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Aug 28;2020:7180616. PMID 32802122.
Outcomes
- Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (n=516): Tai Chi/Qigong reduced pooled systolic and diastolic BP versus controls with higher blood nitric oxide and lower endothelin-1 (continuous pooled estimates in full text).