title: Lowering cortisol and CVD risk in postmenopausal women: a pilot study using the Transcendental Meditation program.
abstract: Unlike younger women, the risk of cardiovascular disease in older women matches or exceeds that of men. Excessive cortisol may play a role in this increased risk. Here we explore the possibility that the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program may reduce the cortisol response to a metabolic stressor as a way of reducing disease risk in older women. Data from 16 women who were long-term practitioners of transcendental meditation (mean = 23 y) were compared with data from 14 control women matched for age (mean = 75 y, range = 65-92 y). Data on demographics, disease symptoms, and psychological variables were collected, and cortisol response to a metabolic stressor (75 g of glucose, orally) was examined in saliva and urine. Pre-glucose levels of salivary cortisol were identical for the two groups. Post-glucose cortisol rose faster in the controls and was significantly higher than that in the TM women (P < 1 3 10(-4)). Urinary excretion of cortisol during this period was 3 times higher in controls than in the TM women (2.4 +/- 0.17 and 0.83 +/- 0.10 microg/h, respectively; P = 2 x 10(-4)). In addition, the number of months practicing transcendental meditation was inversely correlated with CVD risk factors. Lower cortisol response to metabolic challenge may reflect improved endocrine regulation relevant to the disease-preventing effects of transcendental meditation in older women.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, College of Maharishi Consciousness-Based Health Care, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA. kwalton@mvm.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Jeremy Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Levitsky
authors.forename: Dwight A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Nirmal D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D019122:Meditation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone