Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Substance Use among University Students

A randomized wait-list controlled trial (N = 295 university students) of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program was conducted in an urban setting. Substance use was assessed by self-report at baseline and 3 months later. For smoking and illicit drug use, there were no significant differences between conditions. For alcohol use, sex X intervention condition interactions were significant; TM instruction lowered drinking rates among male but not female students. TM instruction could play a valuable role in reducing alcohol use among male university students. Limitations are noted, along with suggestions for further research

Effects of Lifestyle Modification on Telomerase Gene Expression in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Trial of Stress Reduction and Health Education Programs in African Americans.

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

Baseline Characteristics.

<p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; SR, stress reduction program; EHE, extensive health education group.</p><p>Baseline Characteristics.</p

Changes in Blood Pressure.

<p>SD-Standard Deviation</p><p>Changes in Blood Pressure.</p

Changes in Telomerase Gene Expression.

<p>Within group effects are calculated using Wilcoxon matched pair test; between group effects are calculated using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA Test</p><p>Changes in Telomerase Gene Expression.</p

Pre-post changes in telomerase component (HTR) gene expression in the Stress Reduction (SR) and Extensive Health Education (EHE) groups.

<p>Pre-post changes in telomerase component (HTR) gene expression in the Stress Reduction (SR) and Extensive Health Education (EHE) groups.</p

Participant Flow Diagram.

<p>Participant Flow Diagram.</p

Pre-post changes in telomerase component (HTERT) gene expression in the Stress Reduction (SR) and Extensive Health Education (EHE) groups.

<p>Pre-post changes in telomerase component (HTERT) gene expression in the Stress Reduction (SR) and Extensive Health Education (EHE) groups.</p