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Effect of Zen Meditation on serum nitric oxide activity and lipid peroxidation.

Do-Hoon Kim, Yoo-Sun Moon, Hee-Sung Kim, Jun-Sub Jung, Hyung-Moo Park, Hong-Won Suh, Yung-Hi Kim, Dong-Keun Song

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry February 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.11.019 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Controlled trial (non-randomized) Peer reviewed
Sample size 40
Population Adults in Seoul, South Korea; 20 who practiced Zen Meditation and 20 age- and sex-matched controls
Intervention Zen Meditation
Topics Buddhism Meditation
Key findings Zen Meditation practitioners showed significantly higher serum nitrate+nitrite and significantly lower serum malondialdehyde than controls.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Zen Meditation on serum nitric oxide activity (NO) and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation). The experimental group included 20 subjects who had practiced the Zen Meditation program in Meditation Center located in Seoul, South Korea. The control group included 20 subjects who did not practice any formal stress management technique and were age and sex matched with experimental group. To provide an assessment of nitric oxide production, the serum level of nitrate/nitrite was determined using the Griess reagent. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was measured as a convenient index of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Meditation group showed a significant higher level of serum nitrate+nitrite concentration and a significant reduced level of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) than control group. A comprehensive randomized controlled trial should be performed to prove the causal relationship between meditation and level of nitric oxide or oxidative stress in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Comparable studies

Other non-randomized and open-label trials on buddhism, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Oxytocin Release during the Meditation of Altruism and Appreciation (Arigato-Zen) 32 participants providing saliva samples before and after Arigato-Zen practice 2018 Pre-post intervention study n = 32
Zen Den: A Novel Approach to Promote Well-Being in the Workplace. Nurses at an academic level 1 trauma center in Hawaii 2024 Pre-post intervention study n = 92
Buddhist Meditation and Positive Psychology: Cultivating Happiness, Gratitude, and Life Satisfaction Adult participants from Vietnam aged 18-45 2026 Quasi-experimental (nonrandomized) with wait-list control n = 85
State mindfulness, hope, and ikigai before and after crafting an amulet in a field study at a Zen temple in Kyoto Visitors to a Zen temple in Kyoto who participated in the Yuwai-mamori amulet-making... 2026 Qualitative and single-group pre-post field study n = 426
Effects of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Zen Retreat on Affect and Well-Being in Healthcare Workers Health professionals (retreat n=120; control n=92) 2026 Nonrandomized controlled study n = 212

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