title: Elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs.
abstract: Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were measured in 270 men and 153 women who were experienced practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs, mental techniques practiced twice daily, sitting quietly with the eyes closed. These were compared according to sex and 5-year age grouping to 799 male and 453 female nonmeditators. The mean DHEA-S levels in the TM group were higher in all 11 of the age groups measured in women and in 6 of 7 5-year age groups over 40 in men. There were no systematic differences in younger men. Simple regression using TM-group data revealed that this effect was independent of diet, body mass index, and exercise. The mean TM-group levels measured in all women and in the older men were generally comparable to those of nonmeditator groups 5 to 10 years younger. These findings suggest that some characteristics of TM practitioners are modifying the age-related deterioration in DHEA-S secretion by the adrenal cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological and Biological Sciences, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brind
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Vogelman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eisner
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dillbeck
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orentreich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate