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Lowering cortisol and CVD risk in postmenopausal women: a pilot study using the Transcendental Meditation program.

Kenneth G Walton, Jeremy Z. Fields, Debra K Levitsky, Dwight A Harris, Nirmal D. Pugh, Robert H Schneider

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences December 2004 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1314.023 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 30
Population Older women (mean age 75, range 65-92), including long-term TM practitioners and matched controls
Intervention Transcendental Meditation (TM) program
Measures salivary cortisol, urinary cortisol
Topics Meditation
Key findings Post-glucose salivary cortisol rose faster and was significantly higher in controls than in TM practitioners, and urinary cortisol excretion was three times higher in controls (2.4 vs. 0.83 microg/h). Months of TM practice inversely correlated with CVD risk factors, suggesting improved endocrine regulation.

Abstract

Unlike younger women, the risk of cardiovascular disease in older women matches or exceeds that of men. Excessive cortisol may play a role in this increased risk. Here we explore the possibility that the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program may reduce the cortisol response to a metabolic stressor as a way of reducing disease risk in older women. Data from 16 women who were long-term practitioners of transcendental meditation (mean = 23 y) were compared with data from 14 control women matched for age (mean = 75 y, range = 65-92 y). Data on demographics, disease symptoms, and psychological variables were collected, and cortisol response to a metabolic stressor (75 g of glucose, orally) was examined in saliva and urine. Pre-glucose levels of salivary cortisol were identical for the two groups. Post-glucose cortisol rose faster in the controls and was significantly higher than that in the TM women (P < 1 3 10(-4)). Urinary excretion of cortisol during this period was 3 times higher in controls than in the TM women (2.4 +/- 0.17 and 0.83 +/- 0.10 microg/h, respectively; P = 2 x 10(-4)). In addition, the number of months practicing transcendental meditation was inversely correlated with CVD risk factors. Lower cortisol response to metabolic challenge may reflect improved endocrine regulation relevant to the disease-preventing effects of transcendental meditation in older women.

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

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