Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on neuropeptide Y plasma levels in stressed individuals.
Journal of Psychiatric Research January 1, 2025 Helle Degnbol Østergaard, Karen Johanne Pallesen, Marit Nyholm Nielsen et al.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) may increase plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in individuals with chronic stress. Adults with symptoms of chronic stress were randomly assigned to eight weeks of MBSR, a locally-developed stress reduction intervention (LSR), or a wait-list control group. Blood samples taken at baseline and at a twelve-week follow-up showed that the MBSR group had increased plasma NPY levels compared to the wait-list control group, while the LSR group did not differ statistically from the other groups. This pilot study suggests MBSR can alter plasma NPY, indicating a possible biological pathway for stress reduction.