Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Oxidative Stress and Mindfulness in Healthy Participants.
Yogesh Patil, Kishore Sabbu, Ranjani B Iyer, Sanjana T Philip, Alphonso Armila Nadhar, Kapil Thakur, Poonam Kadu, Mansee Thakur
Cureus June 23, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62943 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective controlled study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Healthy individuals aged 18-24 |
| Intervention | Heartfulness meditation |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Measures | serum malondialdehyde, serum nitrate, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Experiential Avoidance (EA) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Oxidative stress Malondialdehyde mda Nitrate Mental health Psychometric evaluations Heartfulness meditation |
| Key points | After 12 weeks, the Heartfulness meditation group showed no significant increase in malondialdehyde while the control group did, and the meditation group showed a significant increase in nitrate. Mindfulness scores rose and experiential avoidance fell, leading the authors to suggest Heartfulness meditation benefits both mindfulness and oxidative stress. |
Abstract
Background: Mental health issues are a major cause of poor life outcomes. Heartfulness (HFN) meditation is recommended for stress management and daily awareness. Although studies have shown that HFN can improve burnout and well-being, the biological mechanism underlying oxidative stress markers in a healthy human is unclear.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether HFN meditation benefits mindfulness responses and also to examine the impact of HFN meditation on oxidative stress in healthy individuals.
Methods: This prospective study involved 60 healthy individuals aged 18-24, divided into experimental and control groups, and implemented an HFN meditation intervention over 12 weeks. Both groups' serum malondialdehyde and serum nitrate levels were examined before and after the intervention. Additionally, psychometric evaluations concerning mindfulness and experiential avoidance were conducted utilizing scales such as the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and Experiential Avoidance (EA).
Results: Following a three-month intervention period, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the experimental group did not show a significant increase, whereas in the control group, there was a significant increase (p < 0.000). Conversely, serum nitrate levels in the experimental group exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05). Additionally, psychological stress decreased, as indicated by various questionnaire tools such as MAAS, FFMQ, SCS, and EA, with mindfulness showing an increase. However, a decrease in EA was seen.
Conclusion: Heartfulness meditation has a positive impact on both mindfulness and oxidative stress. This suggests that consistent, long-term participation in HFN meditation could enhance mental health and foster overall well-being.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Zen meditation, Length of Telomeres, and the Role of Experiential Avoidance and Compassion Mindfulness February 22, 2016
- Heartfulness Meditation: A Yogic and Neuroscientific Perspective Frontiers in Psychology May 10, 2022
- Impact of Heartfulness meditation practice on anxiety, perceived stress, well-being, and telomere length. Frontiers in Psychology 2023
- Impact of Yoga and Meditation on Cellular Aging in Apparently Healthy Individuals: A Prospective, Open-Label Single-Arm Exploratory Study Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity January 16, 2017
and 7 more in the library