Elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were measured in 270 men and 153 women who were experienced practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs, mental techniques practiced twice daily, sitting quietly with the eyes closed. These were compared according to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of behavioral medicine 1992-08, Vol.15 (4), p.327-341
Main Authors: GLASER, J. L, BRIND, J. L, VOGELMAN, J. H, EISNER, M. J, DILLBECK, M. C, KEITH WALLACE, R, DEEPAK CHOPA, ORENTREICH, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arousal - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dehydroepiandrosterone - analogs & derivatives
Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Relaxation Therapy
Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation
Sex Factors
Treatments
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Summary:Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were measured in 270 men and 153 women who were experienced practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs, mental techniques practiced twice daily, sitting quietly with the eyes closed. These were compared according to sex and 5-year age grouping to 799 male and 453 female nonmeditators. The mean DHEA-S levels in the TM group were higher in all 11 of the age groups measured in women and in 6 of 7 5-year age groups over 40 in men. There were no systematic differences in younger men. Simple regression using TM-group data revealed that this effect was independent of diet, body mass index, and exercise. The mean TM-group levels measured in all women and in the older men were generally comparable to those of nonmeditator groups 5 to 10 years younger. These findings suggest that some characteristics of TM practitioners are modifying the age-related deterioration in DHEA-S secretion by the adrenal cortex.
ISSN:0160-7715
1573-3521
DOI:10.1007/BF00844726