| Maharishi University of Management |
January 23, 1998
NEWS RELEASE
Transcending Heart Disease
Study shows the Transcendental Meditation
technique
lowers lipid peroxide levels in elderly
FAIRFIELD, IA: Researchers have discovered convincing new evidence that an age-old meditation practice may reduce atherosclerosis and slow the aging process.
A study published in the current issue of Psychosomatic Medicine (Jan./Feb. 1998) reports that elderly people practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique have significantly lower serum lipid peroxide levels.
High levels of lipid peroxide have been shown in previous studies to be an important factor in the formation of atherosclerosis and to be directly associated with the aging process.
The present study looked at the relationship between oxidative stress (free radical activity), and stress reduction through the practice of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program.
Forty-one elderly subjects with an average age of 67 were recruited from the same Midwestern town. Eighteen were long-term practitioners of the TM program (average length of practice: 16.5 years). Twenty-three were controls who were not practicing a formal stress management technique. Subjects in both groups were of similar age, gender, level of education, and normal health condition.
The results showed that the group practicing the TM technique had 15 percent lower serum lipid peroxide levels compared to the controls. No significant differences were found between the two groups in regards to smoking, fat intake or vitamin supplementation. The TM group also had lower red meat consumption but matched subgroup analysis and partial correlations did not show a relationship between red meat intake and lipid peroxide levels.
Robert Schneider, MD, the studyÕs principal coauthor and director of the Center for Health and Aging Studies at Maharishi University of Management, College of Maharishi Vedic Medicine, in Fairfield, Iowa, said, "These findings suggest that we may be able to reduce atherosclerosis and slow the aging process through the TM technique, which appears to have a balancing effect on neurophysiological functioning."
Source: MUM press relase at http://www.tm.org/news/prlipid.html