Thoughts modulate the expression of inflammatory genes and may improve the coronary blood flow in patients after a myocardial infarction.
Carlo Dal Lin, Mariela Marinova, Giorgio Rubino, Elisabetta Gola, Alessandra Brocca, Giorgia Pantano, Laura Brugnolo, Cristiano Sarais, Umberto Cucchini, Biancarosa Volpe, Chiara Cavalli, Maura Bellio, Emilia Fiorello, Sofia Scali, Mario Plebani, Sabino Iliceto, Francesco Tona
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine January 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.04.011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational controlled study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | 30 consecutive patients after myocardial infarction and 10 healthy controls |
| Interventions | Meditation Music listening |
| Duration | 60 days of relaxation response practice for gene expression measures; 6 months for intima-media thickness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Epigenetics Integrative cardiology Music therapy Stress |
| Key findings | The relaxation response, induced by meditation or music listening, was associated with reduced neuro-endocrine-immune molecules and oxidative stress, lower expression of the inflammatory genes p53, NFkB, and TLR4, increased coronary flow reserve, and regression of carotid intima-media thickness over 6 months. The authors propose that the relaxation response modulates inflammatory gene expression through a cascade of neuro-endocrine-immune messengers, improving microvascular function and the arteriosclerotic process over time. |
Abstract
Mental stress is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Meditation and music listening are two techniques that are able to counteract it through the activation of specific brain areas, eliciting the so-called Relaxing Response (RR). Epidemiological evidence reveals that the RR practice has a beneficial prognostic impact on patients after myocardial infarction. We aimed to study the possible molecular mechanisms of RR underlying these findings. We enrolled 30 consecutive patients after myocardial infarction and 10 healthy controls. 10 patients were taught to meditate, 10 to appreciate music and 10 did not carry out any intervention and served as controls. After training, and after 60 days of RR practice, we studied the individual variations, before and after the relaxation sessions, of the vital signs, the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters along with coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the carotid's intima media thickness (IMT). Neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) messengers and the expression of inflammatory genes (p53, Nuclear factor Kappa B (NfKB), and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)) in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also all observed. The RR results in a reduction of NEI molecules (p < 0.05) and oxidative stress (p < 0.001). The expression of the genes p53, NFkB and TLR4 is reduced after the RR and also at 60 days (p < 0.001). The CFR increases with the relaxation (p < 0.001) and the IMT regressed significantly (p < 0.001) after 6 months of RR practice. The RR helps to advantageously modulate the expression of inflammatory genes through a cascade of NEI messengers improving, over time, microvascular function and the arteriosclerotic process.
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 4
- Remodeling the Epigenome Through Meditation: Effects on Brain, Body, and Well-being. Sub-cellular biochemistry 2025
- Short-term meditation training alters brain activity and sympathetic responses at rest, but not during meditation Scientific Reports May 15, 2024
- On the road to resilience: Epigenetic effects of meditation. Vitamins and hormones 2023
- Expert Opinion: Meditation and Cardiovascular Health: What is the Link? European cardiology December 18, 2019