Author: Sharma H, Datta P, Singh A, Sen S, Bhardwaj NK, Kochupillai V, Singh N.
Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari
Conference/Journal: Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Date published: 2008 Feb
Other:
Volume ID: 64 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 213-8 , Word Count: 316
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BACKGROUND: The rapid pace of life, eating habits, and environmental
pollution have increased stress levels and its related disorders. Stress genes and
a variety of regulatory pathways mediate the complex molecular response to
stress. Oxidative stress is internal damage caused by reactive oxygen species.
Increasing evidence suggests that chronic psychosocial stress may increase
oxidative stress, which in turn may contribute to aging, and etiology of coronary
diseases, cancer, arthritis, etc. Psychophysiological concomitants of meditation
have been extensively researched, but there are very little data available on
biochemical activity leading to relieving stress by causing a relaxation response
by Sudarshan Kriya (SK). SK is a breathing technique that involves breathing in
three different rhythms. It is preceded by Ujjayi Pranayam (long and deep
breaths with constriction at the base of throat) and Bhastrika (fast and forceful
breaths through nose along with arm movements).
METHODS: Forty-two SK practitioners and 42 normal healthy controls were
recruited for our study. The practitioners had practiced SK for at least 1 year.
Selected normal healthy controls did not perform any conventional physical
exercise or any formal stress management technique. Whole blood was used for
glutathione peroxidase estimation and red blood cell lysate was used for
superoxide dismutase activity assay and for glutathione estimation. White blood
cells were isolated from fresh blood and assayed for gene expression using
reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The parameters studied are
antioxidant enzymes, genes involved in oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell cycle
control, aging, and apoptosis.
RESULTS: A better antioxidant status both at the enzyme activity and RNA level
was seen in SK practitioners. This was accompanied by better stress regulation
and better immune status due to prolonged life span of lymphocytes by up-
regulation of antiapoptotic genes and prosurvival genes in these subjects.
CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study provides the first evidence suggesting that SK
practice may exert effects on immunity, aging, cell death, and stress regulation
through transcriptional regulation.