Meditation: a modulator of the immune response to physical stress? A brief report.
Erik E Solberg, R Halvorsen, J Sundgot-Borgen, F Ingjer, Are Holen
British journal of sports medicine December 1995 DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.29.4.255 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Concurrent, controlled design (non-randomized controlled comparison) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Male runners, six meditators and six non-meditators |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Duration | Six months of meditation, with blood samples taken immediately before and after a VO2max test |
| Measures | CD8+ T cells, CD2+ cells |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | After six months of meditation, the increase in CD8+ T cells following a VO2max test was significantly smaller in meditators than in non-meditating controls, while CD2+ cells roughly doubled after exercise in both groups, mainly from a rise in the CD8+ fraction. The authors suggest meditation may modify the suppressive influence of strenuous physical stress on the immune system. |
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that stress reducing techniques such as meditation alter immune responses after strenous physical stress. The hypothesis was tested by studying six meditating and six non-meditating male runners in a concurrent, controlled design. After a period of six months with meditation for the experimental group, blood samples were taken immediately before and after a maximum oxygen uptake test (VO2max). The increase in CD8+ T cells after VO2max was significantly less in the meditation group than in the control group (P = 0.04). The amount of CD2+ cells doubled after VO2max, mainly because of a rise in the CD8+ fraction. Meditation may modify the suppressive influence of strenous physical stress on the immune system.