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Yoga and Meditation as a Therapeutic Intervention in Oxidative Stress and Oxidative DNA Damage to Paternal Genome

Authors:
Rima Dada at All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Rima Dada
Shiv Basant Kumar at University of Newcastle Australia
Shiv Basant Kumar
Madhuri Tolahunase at All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Madhuri Tolahunase
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Abstract

Yoga and meditation (encompassing physical postures, breathing practices, relaxation techniques and meditation) is known to modulate neural, endocrine and immune functions at the cellular level through influencing cell cycle control, aging, oxidative stress (OS), apoptosis and several pathways of stress signalling. Individuals with high level of oxidative stress are in great need of safe, inexpensive, non-pharmacologic, accessible, and effective adjunctive therapies to enhance well-being, reduce the burden of such stress and prevent its chronic sequelae. OS is the aetiology in several complex lifestyle diseases (coronary artery disease, hypertension, primary open angle glaucoma, idiopathic male infertility) and autoimmune disorders. Seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage may be the common underlying cause for infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortions, congenital malformations and complex neuropsychiatric disorders in children and in certain childhood cancers. Thus management by antioxidants and simple life style modifications and interventions like meditation and yoga are highly efficacious in management of oxidative stress and its sequelae.
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Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000217
J Yoga Phys Ther
ISSN: 2157-7595 JYPT, an open access journal
Research Article Open Access
Dada et al., J Yoga Phys Ther 2015, 5:4
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7595.1000217
Commentary Open Access
Yoga & Physical Therapy
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ISSN: 2157-7595
Yoga and Meditation as a Therapeutic Intervention in Oxidative Stress
and Oxidative DNA Damage to Paternal Genome
Rima Dada1*, Shiv Basant Kumar1, Madhuri Tolahunase1, Swetasmita Mishra1, Kuldeep Mohanty2 and Tanwar Mukesh3
¹Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
²Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
3Department of Genetics, MDU, Rohtak, India
*Corresponding author: Rima Dada, Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and
Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New
Delhi, India, Tel: 91-11-26593517; E-mail: rima_dada@rediffmail.com
Received August 09, 2015; Accepted November 04, 2015; Published November
11, 2015
Citation: Dada R, Kumar SB, Tolahunase M, Mishra S, Mohanty K, et al.
(2015) Yoga and Meditation as a Therapeutic Intervention in Oxidative Stress
and Oxidative DNA Damage to Paternal Genome. J Yoga Phys Ther 5: 217.
doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000217
Copyright: © 2015 Dada R, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
Keywords: Sperm; DNA damage; Yoga; Meditation; Oxidative stress;
Lifestyle
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate several physiological
functions and play key role in several biological functions. Humans
now live in a sea of free radicals with ever increasing exposure to both
exogenous and endogenous source of free radicals (electromagnetic
radiation, persistence organic pollutants, insecticides, pesticides, high
temperature, psychological stress, smoking, excess alcohol consumption,
sedentary life style, varicocele, infection and inammation). Studies
from our laboratory on normozoospermic infertile men and couples
with idiopathic RSA and couples with more than 2 children with
congenital malformations with unexplained aetiology has shown that
systemic and testicular oxidative stress and oxidative damage to sperm
DNA is the underlying aetiology in all these disorders believed to be
idiopathic. Oxidative stress damages all biomolecules like proteins,
lipids and carbohydrates and even mt and nuclear DNA. Free radicals
are generated as byproducts of mt oxidative phosphorylation and thus
target the mt which are both the source and target of free radicals.
Supraphysiological free radical levels damage the mt which produce
less ATP and more free radicals. Free radicals target both somatic and
germ cells but the sperm a highly polarized cell is most vulnerable to
oxidative stress by virtue of it losing majority of cytosolic antioxidants
during spermiogenesis and being very rich in polyunsaturated fatty
acids. Being transcriptionally and translationally inert it has only
limited DNA damage detection and repair mechanism.us it is most
vulnerable to oxidative damage and depends largely on the oocyte post
fertilization to remove the damage as it only has OGG1 but lacks APE
and XRCC1 . However in contrast oocyte has very low levels of OGG1
but has APE and XRCC1 thus both work in concert to repair the DNA
damage. However extensive DNA damage can overwhelm the oocyte
repair capacity and lead to persistence of mutagenic lesions in DNA
which then are found in every cell of the zygote if not removed prior to
rst mitotic division.
is can have serious consequences causing pre and post
implantation losses, congenital malformations and even childhood
cancers. us every eort should be made to prevent oxidative stress
in testicular and epididymal tissue, since in majority of cases oxidative
stress is caused by a host of modiable factors (smoking, sedentary
lifestyle, excess alcohol intake, obesity) simple changes in social habits
and adoption of healthy lifestyle can prevent OS and DNA damage.
Delaying marriage and having children at an older age may compound
the problem further as sperm tends to accumulate damage and has more
denovo germ line mutations due to more cell divisions and also because
of accumulation of oxidative DNA lesions. us in studies from our lab
have shown that sporadic cancers like Retinoblastoma usually aect the
last born child when the paternal age is beyond 35 years. Recent studies
from our lab have also documented that meditation and yoga are highly
eective in reducing OS and DNA damage and thereby the mutagenic
load carried by sperm DNA.
Childhood cancer appears to be an ever growing disease and a
leading cause of death worldwide. Recent studies, from our laboratory
have supported the view that sperm DNA damage may be the cause of
morbidity and mortality in ospring of fathers with oxidative damage to
sperm genome. Oxidative stress also aects the methylation pattern of
sperm genome causing hypomethylation of repetitive elements causing
genome instability and mutability and hypermethylation of tumour
suppressor genes which may lead to higher incidence of both gonadal
and extragonadal tumours in these men or to cancers in ospring.
OS also targets the telomeric DNA accelerating its shortening further
compounding the genome instability and may also cause premature
aging of the testis. Shorter telomeres may aect spermatogenesis and
such men may manifest with oligozoospermia or azoospermia.
Abstract
Yoga and meditation (encompassing physical postures, breathing practices, relaxation techniques and
meditation) is known to modulate neural, endocrine and immune functions at the cellular level through inuencing
cell cycle control, aging, oxidative stress (OS), apoptosis and several pathways of stress signalling. Individuals with
high level of oxidative stress are in great need of safe, inexpensive, non-pharmacologic, accessible, and effective
adjunctive therapies to enhance well-being, reduce the burden of such stress and prevent its chronic sequelae. OS
is the aetiology in several complex lifestyle diseases (coronary artery disease, hypertension, primary open angle
glaucoma, idiopathic male infertility) and autoimmune disorders. Seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage
may be the common underlying cause for infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortions, congenital malformations and
complex neuropsychiatric disorders in children and in certain childhood cancers. Thus management by antioxidants
and simple life style modications and interventions like meditation and yoga are highly efcacious in management
of oxidative stress and its sequelae.
Citation: Dada R, Kumar SB, Tolahunase M, Mishra S, Mohanty K, et al. (2015) Yoga and Meditation as a Therapeutic Intervention in Oxidative Stress
and Oxidative DNA Damage to Paternal Genome. J Yoga Phys Ther 5: 217. doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000217
Page 2 of 2
Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000217
J Yoga Phys Ther
ISSN: 2157-7595 JYPT, an open access journal
Various studies have demonstrated that the poor lifestyle and social
habits contributes in generation of seminal free radicals leading to
oxidative stress [1]. Major cause of DNA damage in sperm is oxidative
stress [2,3]. Also, as sperm have a very basic DNA damage detection
and repair mechanism, therefore a policy of prevention is better than
cure would be best to prevent oxidative DNA lesions as the eect of
antioxidants is highly variable [4].
In previous studies, we have documented that yoga/ meditation-
based lifestyle intervention gradually reduced oxidative DNA damage
in sperm over a period of 6 months [4]. In the same report we have
also found that, the seminal ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels
declined within 10 days practice of meditation and yoga [5,6]. Analysis
of sperm transcriptome showed down regulation in levels of genes of
inammatory pathways and antioxidant genes probably due to decline
in levels of oxidative stress and upregulation in activity of telomerase
genes aiding in maintenance of telomere length [7,8]. is nding is
highly relevant because though genetic causes of infertility, RSA and
congenital malformations are irreversible but oxidative DNA damage
can be minimized by adopting a healthy lifestyle ese ndings have
clinical implications in cases with male factor infertility opting for
assisted conception and may reduce pre and post implantation losses
following assisted and spontaneous conception and may also improve
the rates of spontaneous conceptions in these men and the need to
resort to assisted conception. Also, diagnosis of oxidative sperm
DNA damage and prompt treatment and counselling to parents about
adoption of healthy lifestyle with daily practice of yoga and meditation
may also prevent/decrease incidence of childhood cancer and several
neuropsychiatric disorders and even autism in children.
We also found that in obese patients the telomerase activity
increased signicantly following practice of meditation and yoga and
may be due to decrease in BMI to normal levels, but interestingly BMI
was not reduced non-obese controls aer the intervention [9]. ese
ndings indicate that yoga and meditation irrespective of caloric
restriction signicantly improves health. Yoga and meditation was
also associated with upregulation in levels of anti-aging gene, such as
SIRTUINS. A recent study from the authors’ laboratory (unpublished)
found upregulation in levels of aer 1 month of practice of yoga and
meditation. is is the rst study to report uregulations in levels of
SIRT1 following meditation and yoga practice independent of caloric
restriction. We also found such couples with (idiopathic infertility,
rec spontaneous abortion, children with congenital malformation and
cancers) to have mild to moderate depression and following this practice
of meditation and yoga there was signicant decline in cortisol levels
and upregulation in levels of endorphins and improvement in quality
of life and reduced psychological stress and severity of depression. us
yoga and meditation is the key to reversing testicular aging as the three
hallmarks of aging- OS, DNA damage and shortening of telomeres all
show a signicant decline post meditation and yoga intervention.
erefore, in conclusion, meditation/yoga-based lifestyle
intervention might result in decline in free radical levels in blood
and lower seminal oxidative stress; reduce oxidative damage to both
mitochondrial and nuclear genome which culminates in lower
mutagenic load in DNA. Decline in oxidative damage in sperm may
aid couples opting for assisted conception to conceive spontaneously
and may reduce number of couples experiencing pre and post
implantation losses, recurrent spontaneous abortion or having children
with congenital malformations/cancer. Regular practice of yoga and
meditation could also be the key to healthy senescence as it could have
a buering eect on age-dependent DNA damage and repair capacity.
Limitations of the studies
Such studies should now be carried out in dierent populations and
a larger number of individuals.
References
1. Mishra SS, Kumar R, Malhotra N, Dada R (2013) Expression of PARP1 in
primary infertility patients and correlation with DNA fragmentation index a pilot
study. J Anatom Soc India 62: 98–104.
2. Kumar SB, Chawla B, Bisht S, Yadav RK, Dada R (2015) Tobacco use
increases oxidative sperm DNA damage- Etiology in childhood cancer. Asian
Pac J Cancer Prev 16:6967-6972.
3. Venkatesh S, Singh A, Shamsi MB, Thilagavathi J, Kumar R, et al (2011)
Clinical signicance of sperm DNA damage threshold value in the assessment
of male infertility. Reprod Sci 18: 1005-1013.
4. Kumar SB, Gautam S, Tolahunase M, Chawla B, Yadav RK, et al (2015)
Improvement in Sperm DNA Quality Following Simple Life Style Intervention:
A Study in Fathers of Children with Non-Familial Sporadic Heritable
Retinoblastoma. J Clin Case Rep 5: 509.
5. Kuldeep Mohanty, Swetasmita Mishra, Shiv Basant, Yadav RK, Rima Dada
(2014) Estimation of blood free radical levels in healthy population pre and post
yoga. J Anatom Soc India 63:S13–S18.
6. Shiv Basant Kumar, Rashmi Yadav, Raj Kumar Yadav, Rima Dada (2014)
Impact of life style interventions on markers of cellular aging. Andrology 2 :73.
7. Ornish D, Lin J, Daubenmier J, Weidner G, Epel E, et al. (2008) Increased
telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. Lancet
Oncol 9:1048–1057.
8. Jacobs TL, Epel ES, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Wolkowitz OM, et al. (2010) Intensive
meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological
mediators. Psychoneuroendocrinology 36: 664–681.
9. Kumar SB, Rashmi Y, Raj Kumar Y, Dada R (2015) Telomerase activity and
cellular aging might be positively modied by a yoga-based lifestyle intervention.
J Altern Complement Med 21: 370-372.
Citation: Dada R, Kumar SB, Tolahunase M, Mishra S, Mohanty K, et al.
(2015) Yoga and Meditation as a Therapeutic Intervention in Oxidative Stress
and Oxidative DNA Damage to Paternal Genome. J Yoga Phys Ther 5: 217.
doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000217
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Full-text available
  • Mar 2015
Introduction and objectives: Genomic integrity of gametes is important for birth of healthy offspring. As compared to ova the sperm is more susceptible to mutation due to limited DNA damage detection and repair mechanism. Life style habits adopted by father before conception may adversely affect genomic DNA integrity in male gametes. Oxidative stress damages sperm nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Complementary and alternative medical therapies such as yoga/meditation are being increasingly used as adjuncts to modern medicine in treatment of several clinical conditions. Therefore, in this pilot study, we analyzed the effects of yoga and meditation on seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA integrity in fathers of children with non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma (Rb) after intervention (3 and 6 months). Methods: A total of 10 men (father of children with sporadic non-familial Rb) were recruited in this study. Semen samples were collected at base line (day 0), 3 months and after 6 months of yoga practice. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were estimated at day 0.3 months and 6 months interval. Results: There was reduction in mean DFI levels [p>0.05] at 3 months and 6 months [p<0.05] compared to base line level (day 0). Seminal mean ROS levels were significantly reduced after 3 months [p<0.05] and 6 months [p<0.01]. We also observed reduction in levels of 8-OHdG both after 3 months [p>0.05] 6 months [p<0.05] with respect to the base line levels (day 0). Conclusions: Yoga/meditation significantly lowers oxidative stress and oxidative nuclear DNA damage, and levels of the mutagenic base 8OHdG. Thus yoga and meditation are simple life style interventions which are therapeutic for maintaining/restoring sperm DNA integrity
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Tobacco Use Increases Oxidative DNA Damage in Sperm - Possible Etiology of Childhood Cancer
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2015
  • ASIAN PAC J CANCER P
Background: Cigarette smoking and tobacco chewing are common modes of consuming tobacco all over the world. Parents need to be aware that germ cell integrity is vital for birth of healthy offspring as biological parenting begins much before birth of a child and even before conception. The present study was conducted to determine the etiology of non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma (NFSHRb), by evaluating oxidative sperm DNA damage in fathers due to use of tobacco (smoking and chewing). Materials and methods: We recruited 145 fathers of NFSHRb children and 53 fathers of healthy children (controls) in the study. Tobacco history was obtained by personal interview. Seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) in semen, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and 8 hydroxy 2' deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in sperm were evaluated. The RB1 gene was screened in genomic blood DNA of parents of children with NFSHRb and controls. Odds ratios (ORs) derived from conditional logistic regression models. Results: There was significant difference in the levels of ROS (p<0.05), DFI (p<0.05) and 8-OHdG (p<0.05) between tobacco users and non-users. The OR of NFSHRb for smokers was 7.29 (95%CI 2.9-34.5, p<0.01), for tobacco chewers 4.75 (2.07-10.9, p<0.05) and for both 9.11 (3.79-39.2; p<0.01). Conclusions: This study emphasizes the adverse effect of tobacco on the paternal genome and how accumulation of oxidative damage in sperm DNA may contribute to the etiology of NFSHRb. In an ongoing parallel study in our laboratory, 11 of fathers who smoked underwent. Meditation and yoga interventions, showed significant decline in levels of highly mutagenic oxidised DNA adducts after 6 months. Thus our lifestyle and social habits impact sperm DNA integrity and simple interventions like yoga and meditation are therapeutic for oxidative damage to sperm DNA.
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Telomerase Activity and Cellular Aging Might Be Positively Modified by a Yoga-Based Lifestyle Intervention: A Case Report
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2015
  • J ALTERN COMPLEM MED
Recent studies showed that a brief yoga-based lifestyle intervention was efficacious in reducing levels of oxidative stress and cellular aging in obese men. The objective of this case report was to assess the efficacy of this intervention in reducing the levels of biochemical markers of cellular ageing, oxidative stress, and inflammation at baseline (day 0), at the end of active intervention (day 10), and follow-up at day 90. Single case report from a prospective ongoing study with pre-post design assessing the level of various markers of cellular aging. Integral Health Clinic, an outpatient facility conducting meditation and yoga-based lifestyle intervention programs for management of chronic diseases. A 31-year-old man with class I obesity (body-mass index, 29.5 kg/m(2)) who presented to the medicine outpatient department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, with a history of fatigue, difficulty losing weight, and lack of motivation. He noted a marked decrease in his energy level, particularly in the afternoon. A pretested intervention program included asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), stress management, group discussions, lectures, and individualized advice. From baseline (day 0) to day 90, the activity of telomerase and levels of β-endorphins, plasma cortisol, and interleukin-6 increased, and a sustained reduction in oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine levels. Adopting yoga/meditation-based lifestyle modification causes reversal of markers of aging, mainly oxidative stress, telomerase activity, and oxidative DNA damage. This may not only delay aging and prolong a youthful healthy life but also delay or prevent onset of several lifestyle-related diseases, of which oxidative stress and inflammation are the chief cause. This report suggests this simple lifestyle intervention may be therapeutic for oxidative DNA damage and oxidative stress.
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Clinical Significance of Sperm DNA Damage Threshold Value in the Assessment of Male Infertility
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2011
  • REPROD SCI
Sperm DNA integrity is a prerequisite for normal spermatozoal function. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of sperm chromatin damage, its cut-off level and its effect on sperm parameters in men with idiopathic infertility by analyzing 100 idiopathic infertile men and 50 fertile controls. Semen samples were analyzed as per WHO 1999 guidelines and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was applied to measure DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in sperm. The mean DFI of infertile men (35.75) was significantly (P < .0001) higher as compared to controls (26.22). The threshold level of 30.28% was obtained as cut-off value to discriminate infertile men from fertile controls. Sperm count, forward motility, and normal morphology found to be negatively associated with DFI in overall study subjects. Infertile men with severe oligozoospermia had higher mean DFI (40.01 ± 11.31) than infertile men with oligozoospermia (35.11 ± 10.05) and normal sperm count (33.99 ± 9.96). Moreover 64% of infertile men have DFI > 30 against 6% of fertile controls (P < .0001). Higher sperm DNA fragmentation may be the underlying cause for poor semen quality in idiopathic infertile men and the threshold value of 30.28% is a clear discriminator to distinguish infertile men from fertile men of Indian population. Thus, DFI is a good prognostic marker as cases with higher sperm DFI may have poor success rate even after assisted conception and may experience recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and should be counseled accordingly.
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Estimation of blood free radical levels in healthy population pre and post yoga
Article
  • Dec 2014
  • J Anat Soc India
Introduction Reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve several physiological functions. At supraphysiological levels they participate in the pathophysiology of many diseases by damaging biomolecules. In several disease conditions and following exposure to insecticides, pesticides and organic pollutants there is oxidative stress. Psychological stress and depression are known to raise cortisol levels and cause oxidative stress. So, this study was planned with the aim to measure and establish baseline ROS levels in whole blood in normal healthy individuals and to investigate the effect of yoga on ROS levels and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels which is an oxidative DNA damage marker. Method Whole blood ROS levels was measured in 175 healthy individuals by chemiluminescence method using luminol as a probe. Levels of blood ROS and 8-OHdG were also measured in 50 healthy individuals following a 10 days pretested yoga programme. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 15 software. Results The median whole blood ROS value in the healthy individuals was 1266.0 RLU/min/104 neutrophil (Minimum – 573.0; Maximum – 2345.0). The mean ROS levels post yoga (1020.81 ± 0.79 RLU/minute/104 neutrophil) was significantly lower (p = 0.024) as compared to pre yoga (1215.07 ± 0.88 RLU/minute/104 neutrophil). The 8-OHdG levels post yoga (9367.57 ± 2709.58 pg/ml) was also significantly lower (p < 0.041) as compared to pre yoga (10268.23 ± 3349.71 pg/ml). Discussion Baseline ROS value in the whole blood can act as a diagnostic tool in various clinical conditions and exposure to several environmental modulators can disrupt ROS homeostasis and life style intervention like yoga can decrease ROS levels.
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Expression of PARP1 in primary infertility patients and correlation with DNA fragmentation index a pilot study
Article
  • Dec 2013
  • J Anat Soc India
Purpose Sperm DNA damage is associated with poor assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcome, birth of offspring with major congenital malformation, recurrent spontaneous abortions after assisted and spontaneous conception. The presence of sperm in the ejaculate with high levels of DNA damage indicates either a defect or deficiency in sperm DNA repair mechanisms. ADP ribosylation brought about by poly ADP ribosylases (PARP) of proteins helps in recognition of DNA breaks and recruitment of DNA base excision repair (BER) enzymes. This study was planned to analyse the expression levels of PARP1 (PARP family member) in the sperm samples from both infertile (with normal semen parameters) and control (fertile) men and correlate with sperm DNA damage. Methods The study included both infertile men (n = 29) and controls (n = 17). The expression level of PARP1 was quantified by qPCR. For all samples Comet assay and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was performed and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) calculated. Results Relative quantification showed that the level of expression of PARP1 was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower and percentage DFI significantly (P = 0.0015) higher in sperm samples from infertile men compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between PARP1 levels and sperm DNA damage. Conclusion Abnormally low expression of DNA repair enzymes explains for the persistence of DNA damage in sperm. Low levels of PARP can explain for persistence of sperm DNA damage. This may be aetiology of infertility or recurrent pre implantation losses following assisted reproduction in cases with idiopathic infertility.
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Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators
Article
  • Oct 2010
Background: Telomerase activity is a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g., Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice, increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity. Methods: Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006). Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity. Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria were used throughout. Results: Telomerase activity was significantly greater in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat (p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life. Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not. Conclusions: This is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity, with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further, Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.
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Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: A pilot study
Article
  • Oct 2008
Background: Telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes at the end of linear chromosomes that promote chromosomal stability. Telomere shortness in human beings is emerging as a prognostic marker of disease risk, progression, and premature mortality in many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colorectal, bladder, head and neck, lung, and renal cell. Telomere shortening is counteracted by the cellular enzyme telomerase. Lifestyle factors known to promote cancer and cardiovascular disease might also adversely affect telomerase function. However, previous studies have not addressed whether improvements in nutrition and lifestyle are associated with increases in telomerase activity. We aimed to assess whether 3 months of intensive lifestyle changes increased telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Methods: 30 men with biopsy-diagnosed low-risk prostate cancer were asked to make comprehensive lifestyle changes. The primary endpoint was telomerase enzymatic activity per viable cell, measured at baseline and after 3 months. 24 patients had sufficient PBMCs needed for longitudinal analysis. This study is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website, number NCT00739791. Findings: PBMC telomerase activity expressed as natural logarithms increased from 2.00 (SD 0.44) to 2.22 (SD 0.49; p=0.031). Raw values of telomerase increased from 8.05 (SD 3.50) standard arbitrary units to 10.38 (SD 6.01) standard arbitrary units. The increases in telomerase activity were significantly associated with decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (r=-0.36, p=0.041) and decreases in psychological distress (r=-0.35, p=0.047). Interpretation: Comprehensive lifestyle changes significantly increase telomerase activity and consequently telomere maintenance capacity in human immune-system cells. Given this finding and the pilot nature of this study, we report these increases in telomerase activity as a significant association rather than inferring causation. Larger randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm the findings of this study.
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Impact of life style interventions on markers of cellular aging
  • Jan 2014
  • 73
  • Rashmi Shiv Basant Kumar
  • Raj Yadav
  • Rima Kumar Yadav
  • Dada
Shiv Basant Kumar, Rashmi Yadav, Raj Kumar Yadav, Rima Dada (2014) Impact of life style interventions on markers of cellular aging. Andrology 2 :73.