Author: Duraimani S1,2,3, Schneider RH1,2, Randall OS4, Nidich SI1,2, Xu S4, Ketete M4, Rainforth MA1, Gaylord-King C1, Salerno JW1, Fagan J2,3.
Affiliation: 1Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management Research Institute, Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, United States of America. 2Department of Physiology and Health, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, United States of America. 3MUM Molecular Biology Laboratory, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield Iowa, United States of America. 4Howard University College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Washington DC, United States of America.
Conference/Journal: PLoS One.
Date published: 2015 Nov 16
Other:
Volume ID: 10 , Issue ID: 11 , Pages: e0142689 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142689 , Word Count: 349
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
African Americans suffer from disproportionately high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial stress, lifestyle and telomere dysfunction contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated effects of stress reduction and lifestyle modification on blood pressure, telomerase gene expression and lifestyle factors in African Americans.
METHODS:
Forty-eight African American men and women with stage I hypertension who participated in a larger randomized controlled trial volunteered for this substudy. These subjects participated in either stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation technique and a basic health education course (SR) or an extensive health education program (EHE) for 16 weeks. Primary outcomes were telomerase gene expression (hTERT and hTR) and clinic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included lifestyle-related factors. Data were analyzed for within-group and between-group changes.
RESULTS:
Both groups showed increases in the two measures of telomerase gene expression, hTR mRNA levels (SR: p< 0.001; EHE: p< 0.001) and hTERT mRNA levels (SR: p = 0.055; EHE: p< 0.002). However, no statistically significant between-group changes were observed. Both groups showed reductions in systolic BP. Adjusted changes were SR = -5.7 mm Hg, p< 0.01; EHE = -9.0 mm Hg, p < 0.001 with no statistically significant difference between group difference. There was a significant reduction in diastolic BP in the EHE group (-5.3 mm Hg, p< 0.001) but not in SR (-1.2 mm Hg, p = 0.42); the between-group difference was significant (p = 0.04). The EHE group showed a greater number of changes in lifestyle behaviors.
CONCLUSION:
In this pilot trial, both stress reduction (Transcendental Meditation technique plus health education) and extensive health education groups demonstrated increased telomerase gene expression and reduced BP. The association between increased telomerase gene expression and reduced BP observed in this high-risk population suggest hypotheses that telomerase gene expression may either be a biomarker for reduced BP or a mechanism by which stress reduction and lifestyle modification reduces BP.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00681200.
PMID: 26571023
also see newswise article:
Transcendental Meditation and Lifestyle Modification Increase Telomerase, New Study Finds
Increased telomerase associated with decreased hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cellular aging
Released: 4-Dec-2015 11:05 AM EST
Source Newsroom: Maharishi University of Management