Atherosclerosis and meditation

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Feb-March, 2005  by Robert A. Anderson

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Psychosocial stress influences the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a valid surrogate measure for coronary atherosclerosis, is a predictor of coronary outcomes and stroke and is associated with psychosocial stress factors. Sixty hypertensive subjects who were randomly assigned to either the Transcendental Meditation program or a health education control group completed pretest and posttest carotid IMT data determined by B-mode ultrasound. Mean maximum IMT from 6 carotid segments was used to determine baseline IMT values and those taken 6-9 months later. Age and pretreatment IMT were found to be predictors of posttest IMT values and were used as covariates. The TM group showed a significant mean decrease of 0.098 mm vs. an increase of .054 mm in the control group (2p=.038).

Castillo-Richmond A et al. Effects of stress reduction on carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive African Americans. Stroke 2000 Mar; 31(3):568-73

COMMENT: We would expect the intima-medial thickness of the carotid arteries to gradually increase in hypertensive subjects and healthy individuals for that matter. The surprise here is the regression of thickening in those engaging in regular TM sessions. One would expect that other meditative approaches might have the same result, but they have been less well studied. Such striking data will not be accepted in the mainstream without further larger controlled studies. In the meantime, given the fact that meditation has numerous other proven benefits and no downside, why not recommend it to patients who are interested? A feasible mechanism can also be postulated. Catecholamines, the degradation of which fuels oxidative stress, are markedly reduced in regular meditators.

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group
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