Effects of Sudarshan KriyaYoga and Advanced Meditation Program on Genetic Expression of Pro-inflammatory and Antioxidants Genes.
Lakshmi Bhaskar, Chhaya Kharya, Monojith Debnath, Thrinath Mullapudi, Manjula Subbanna, Deepika Chhabra, Neeta Kumar, Prem Prakash Sharma, Om Lata Bhagat, Vinod Kochupillai
Cureus July 4, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41377 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 97 |
| Population | Healthy volunteers who were practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, with 50 in the AMP group (average age 38.8 ± 11.9; 37 females, 13 males) and 47 in the comparison group (average age 36.4 ± 9.3; 43 females, 4 males) |
| Interventions | Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Advanced Meditation Program (AMP) |
| Duration | Four-day AMP; measurements at day 0, day 5, and day 90 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Antioxidants Genetic expression Pro-inflammatory Sudarshan kriya yoga |
| Key findings | In pre-COVID-19 data, pro-inflammatory genes IL1β, IL6, and TNF decreased in both groups, while antioxidative genes SOD and catalase increased in the AMP group and decreased in the comparison group by day 90. During COVID-19, pro-inflammatory genes increased in the AMP group and showed no significant change in the comparison group, and antioxidative genes decreased in the AMP group by day 90. The authors suggest that SKY plus AMP may enhance antioxidative defense and reduce inflammation-related disease risk. |
Abstract
Background: Stress leads to immune system dysregulation and dyshomeostasis at the gene level. Mind-body practices are known to influence genomic expression, leading to better health and quality of life.
Objective: To assess the effect of Advanced Meditation Program (AMP) on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory and antioxidative genes among those already practicing Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY).
Methods: A total of 97 healthy volunteers participated in the study, distributed into two groups. The Group I SKY practitioners attended a four-day AMP (50 participants with an average age of 38.8 ± 11.9 consisting of 37 females and 13 males); they are first-time participants of the AMP. Group II SKY practitioners, on the other hand, consisted of 47 participants with an average age of 36.4 ± 9.3 with 43 females and four males. At day 0, day 5, and day 90, the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes, namely interleukin (IL) 1β, IL6, and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and the expression of antioxidative genes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was observed. The data were analysed in two phases due to the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): (i) pre-COVID-19 and (ii) during COVID-19.
Results: In the pre-COVID-19 data set, IL1β, IL6, and TNF were found to have decreased in both groups. There is a significant increase in the expression of SOD and catalase in Group I and a decrease in Group II by day 90. During COVID-19, pro-inflammatory genes increased in Group I and had no significant change in Group II. All three antioxidant genes had decreased expression by day 90 in Group I; SOD decreased in Group II. Interpretation and conclusions Reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes and increase in the expression of antioxidative genes during the pre-COVID-19 time suggest that the practice of SKY and added AMP may enhance antioxidative defense and may reduce the chance of getting diseases related to inflammation in the body.
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
Cited by 2
- Contemplative Practices as a Form of Stress Management for Patients with Kidney Disease. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN July 18, 2025
- Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) Breath Meditation on Heart Rate Variability, Sleep and Mental Health in Healthy Individuals : A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial medRxiv January 5, 2025
Cites 5
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- Meditation enhances brain oxygenation, upregulates BDNF and improves quality of life in patients with primary open angle glaucoma: A randomized controlled trial Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience October 29, 2018
- Yoga, Meditation and Mind-Body Health: Increased BDNF, Cortisol Awakening Response, and Altered Inflammatory Marker Expression after a 3-Month Yoga and Meditation Retreat Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 26, 2017
- Wellness through a comprehensive yogic breathing program - a controlled pilot trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine December 19, 2007