Effect of Zen Meditation on serum nitric oxide activity and lipid peroxidation.
This study was designed to investigate the effect of Zen Meditation on serum nitric oxide activity (NO) and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation). The experimental group included 20 subjects who had practiced the Zen Meditation program in Meditation Center located in Seoul, South Korea. The control group included 20 subjects who did not practice any formal stress management technique and were age and sex matched with experimental group. To provide an assessment of nitric oxide production, the serum level of nitrate/nitrite was determined using the Griess reagent. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was measured as a convenient index of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Meditation group showed a significant higher level of serum nitrate+nitrite concentration and a significant reduced level of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) than control group. A comprehensive randomized controlled trial should be performed to prove the causal relationship between meditation and level of nitric oxide or oxidative stress in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.
Kim
Do-Hoon
DH
Departments of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Institute of Natural Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Kangwon-Do 200-702, South Korea.
Moon
Yoo-Sun
YS
Kim
Hee-Sung
HS
Jung
Jun-Sub
JS
Park
Hyung-Moo
HM
Suh
Hong-Won
HW
Kim
Yung-Hi
YH
Song
Dong-Keun
DK
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde