1
|
Pragya SU, Pragya SC, Griswold AJ, Gu E, Mehta ND, Uddin P, Veeramachaneni P, Mehta N, Mehta D, Abomoelak B. Preksha Dhyāna Meditation Effect on the DNA Methylation Signature in College Students. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2023; 29:224-233. [PMID: 36749149 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The stress and psychological factors affect the human transcriptomic and epigenomic landscapes. Preksha Dhyana meditation (PM) was found to be effective, in novice healthy college student meditators, at the cognitive skills and transcriptomic levels. Recently published data showed that PM induced alterations at the transcriptome level in healthy and novice college students. Methods: To decipher potential mechanisms underlying the PM effect at the cellular level, array-based methylation analyses in peripheral blood were performed at baseline and 8 weeks postintervention in 34 participants. Results: Overall, 470 CpG sites were nominally differentially methylated (p ≤ 0.05 and change magnitude from ≥3% to ≤ -3%) between baseline and 8 weeks postintervention with 180 sites hypermethylated and 290 sites hypomethylated. Pathway analysis of the genes linked to the differentially methylated sites revealed the enrichment of several molecular and cellular signaling pathways, especially metabolic and brain function signaling pathways. Conclusions: Besides its beneficial effects on cognitive skills and transcriptome alterations, the current data indicate that PM meditation also affects the DNA methylation profile of novice and healthy college students 8 weeks postintervention. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT03779269.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samani U Pragya
- Department of Religions and Philosophies, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samani C Pragya
- Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Anthony J Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Esther Gu
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Neelam D Mehta
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Parvin Uddin
- College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Naina Mehta
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician, Behavioral and Developmental Center, Orlando Health, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Devendra Mehta
- Gastrointestinal Translational Laboratory, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Bassam Abomoelak
- Gastrointestinal Translational Laboratory, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kang MY, Nan JKM, Yuan Y. Effectiveness of an online short-term audio-based mindfulness program on negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Latent growth curve analyses of anxiety and moderated mediation effects of anxiety between mindfulness and negative affect. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-13. [PMID: 36468167 PMCID: PMC9708511 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03902-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
This pilot study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of a mindfulness-based intervention on negative emotions in community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 100) were randomized into an intervention group (n = 50) and a waitlist control group (n = 50). Participants in the mindfulness group underwent 3 weeks (21 sessions) of an online audio-based mindfulness-based intervention program and completed the online measures four times whereas those in the waitlist control group needed to complete the measures twice. Participants completed measures of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The results of the measures of the two groups were compared. Moderated mediation analysis was used to analyze intervention outcomes on negative affect through anxiety. Unconditional quadratic latent growth analysis was used to test the growth trajectories of anxiety. The results showed that this intervention program was effective at improving positive affect and at reducing depression, anxiety, and negative affect. The baseline anxiety moderator was found to be significant, and indirect effects of anxiety post-intervention were found between the mindfulness-based intervention and negative affect. Anxiety levels of participants were not at the same starting point and had similar but non-quadratic growth trajectories. The mindfulness-based intervention program was effective at promoting mental wellbeing and reducing mental problems in community settings in China. Mindfulness practices were beneficial to people with different anxiety levels but had more obvious benefits on anxiety and a negative affect for participants with low anxiety levels. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN16205138 on 26/02/2021.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Ying Kang
- Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Joshua K. M. Nan
- Present Address: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
| | - Yue Yuan
- School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
KANG MY, NAN JKM. Effects and mechanisms of an online short-term audio-based mindfulness program on negative emotions in a community setting: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Integr Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2022.102139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|