Abstract
Objectives
Recent medical research into meditation based on stress, pain, coping, and quality of life has shown an overall positive impact on health and immunological outcomes including oxidative stress. This study was aimed to assess the total nitric oxide, nitrite levels, and antioxidant capacity in experienced meditators compared to an age-, gender-, and education level–matched non-meditating group and to determine relationship between these parameters.
Methods
The total serum nitric oxide (NOx:NO3− + NO2−) and nitrite (NO2−) levels of long-term, experienced meditators (n = 12), recruited using a validated interview, and age-, gender-, and educational level–matched control subjects (n = 12) who had never practiced meditation, were determined using the modified Griess and Griess assay respectively. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was determined using the ABTS assay using Trolox as a standard.
Results
Serum NOx 5.03 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD) and nitrite levels 0.52 ± 0.05 of the meditators were significantly lower and TEAC values 424.35 ± 41.53 of the meditators were significantly higher compared to control group who had serum NOx levels of 5.42 ± 0.42 (p = 0.016, d = − 1.05), nitrite levels of 0.92 ± 0.52 (p = 0.014, d = − 1.08), and TEAC values of 376.15 ± 12.69 (p = 0.001, d = 1.57). There was a correlation of the TEAC levels with NO2− (r = 0.562; d = 0.316) and NOx (r = 0.664; d = 0.441).
Conclusions
These findings indicate a lower production of nitric oxide and a higher serum antioxidant capacity in the long-term meditators with potential beneficial effects against oxidative stress.
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Data availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Funding
This study was funded by the World Bank, Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Grant (6026-LK/8743-LK).
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JCT, SMH, and DWND designed the experiments. JCT carried out experimental work and SMH, DWND, and HWD supervised the research. JCT, SMH, DWND, and HWD analyzed the data. JCT drafted the manuscript, which was improved by SMH, DWND, and HWD. All four authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript. The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors.
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Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka (EC-19–068). Informed written consent was obtained from each participant prior to sample collection.
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Thambyrajah, J.C., Handunnetti, S.M., Dilanthi, H.W. et al. Higher Serum Antioxidant Capacity Levels and Its Association with Serum NOx Levels Among Long-term Experienced Meditators in Sri Lanka. Mindfulness 13, 908–916 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01840-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01840-8