LOWER LIPID PEROXIDE LEVELS IN PRACTITIONERS OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION(R) PROGRAM

Objective: Oxidative stress or free radical activity may contribute to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and other chronic diseases ass ociated with aging. Because psychosocial stress has been shown to incr ease oxidative stress, we conducted an exploratory study to investigat e the effects of stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation ( TM) program on serum lipid peroxide levels In elderly subjects. Method : Forty-one normally healthy subjects (aged 56 to 74 years, average 67 years) were recruited from the same Midwest city. Eighteen were long- term practitioners of the TM program (average 16.5 years.). Twenty-thr ee controls were nor practicing a formal stress management technique. Venous blood samples were analyzed for lipid peroxides by the TEARS as say. A dietary questionnaire was used to assess fat intake, red meat c onsumption, antioxidant vitamin supplementation, and smoking. Differen ces between groups and subgroups were analyzed by t test, and correlat ions. Results: Significantly lower serum levels of lipid peroxides wer e found in the TM practitioners compared with controls (-15%, p = .026 ). No significant differences were found between groups on smoking, fa t intake, or vitamin supplementation. TM practitioners also had lower red meat consumption but matched subgroup analysis and partial correla tions did not confirm a relationship between red meat intake and lipid peroxide levels. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that lower serum lipid peroxide levels may be associated with stress reduc tion using the Transcendental Meditation technique. Prospective contro lled trials are needed to confirm that this effect is because of TM pr actice rather than other lifestyle factors, such as diet.