A relaxation technique in the management of hypercholesterolemia.
M J Cooper, M M Aygen
Journal of human stress December 1979 DOI: 10.1080/0097840x.1979.10545991 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 23 |
| Population | Hypercholesterolemic subjects: 12 who regularly practiced meditation and 11 controls who did not |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Duration | 11 months for meditating subjects; 13 months for controls |
| Key findings | Fasting serum cholesterol fell significantly among the 12 subjects who regularly practiced Transcendental Meditation over 11 months, compared with 11 non-meditating controls followed for 13 months. The authors suggest the relaxation technique may help ameliorate hypercholesterolemia in some subjects, most likely through reduced adrenergic activity. |
Abstract
Chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity has been implicated as a factor capable of elevating and maintaining high serum cholesterol levels independent of dietary measures. We conducted a controlled trial to determine the effect of a relaxation technique. Transcendental Meditation, on serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Serum cholesterol levels were measured at beginning and end of an 11-month period in 12 hypercholesterolemic subjects who regularly practiced meditation. Eleven hypercholesterolemic controls who did not practice the technique were similarly followed up for 13 months. Paired comparisons showed a significant (p less than 0.005) reduction in fasting serum cholesterol levels of those subjects who practiced meditation. These results suggest that the regular practice of a relaxation technique may contribute, most likely through a reduction in adrenergic activity, to the amelioration of hypercholesterolemia in certain subjects.
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989
- Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation® Program: A Research Review Update Current Hypertension Reviews October 1, 2012
- A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies on arousing or wake-promoting effects in Buddhist meditation Frontiers in Psychology October 27, 2023
- Randomized Trial: A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Transcendental Meditation and Yoga Through Retinal Microcirculation in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Journal of Clinical Medicine January 3, 2025
- The Association Between a History of Prior Experience with Meditation and the Prevalence of Chronic Health Conditions: Evidence from the 2012 NHIS. Digital Archive @ GSU May 17, 2022
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