Loving-kindness meditation's effects on nitric oxide and perceived well-being: a pilot study in experienced and inexperienced meditators.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2015 Kathi J Kemper, Daniel Powell, Christine Carlisle Helms et al.
Loving-kindness meditation is associated with stress reduction in inexperienced meditators. Experienced meditators had higher nitrate levels, trended toward having higher nitrite levels, and had significantly lower stress levels than inexperienced meditators. In a study of 12 healthy meditators (7 inexperienced, 5 experienced), stress fell significantly with meditation in the inexperienced group (from 52 to 11 on a 100-point scale), while relaxation increased (from 55 to 89). Experienced meditators had more than twice the plasma nitrate levels and lower baseline stress (15 vs. 49) and heart rate compared to inexperienced meditators. Nitric oxide metabolism may be involved in the cardiovascular effects of persistent meditation practice.