Relationship between Meditation and Waking Salivary Cortisol Secretion among Long-Term MBSR Instructors

Abstract

Background: A potential relationship between long-term meditation practice and stress reduction remains virtually unexplored. The purpose of this study was to characterize stress using salivary waking cortisol in a group of long-term meditators with training in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. Materials and Methods: Four salivary cortisol samples were collected from meditators (n = 84) during the first hour of awakening. The waking cortisol rhythm was summarized using cortisol area under the curve (AUC) with respect to increased secretion above baseline (AUC_I) and cortisol AUC above ground (above zero, AUC_G); data on meditation duration and depth, perceived stress, and other covariates were collected via self-reported questionnaire. Results: Individuals in the highest quartile of years meditating (> 26 years) had statistically significantly elevated AUC_G values (p = 0.01) as compared to individuals in the lowest quartile of years meditating (≤10 years). This relationship was more pronounced among individuals waking at or before 6: 30 a.m. Conclusions: Overall, an increasing number of years of meditation practice was related to a higher waking cortisol response. These intriguing findings warrant additional exploration, as the stress response can be complex.

Meditation and Yoga Practices as Potential Adjunctive Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19: A Brief Overview of Key Subjects

“…There is a fairly large literature, although comparing the effects of longer term compared with more novice practitioners, that shows significantly larger effects with longer practice in domains, for example, of autonomic, neurohormonal, and brain functioning. [61][62][63] Needed are studies of immune function in longer term practitioners directly compared with novice practitioners, although some studies have examined immune-related profiles in longer term meditators compared with nonpractitioner controls. [64][65][66] Furthermore, according to a small but relevant body of research, certain meditation and yoga practices bring another set of key neuroendocrine factors into the picture, in particular melatonin, which in addition to its systemic health-promoting properties has beneficial effects on mood, affect, emotion, and mental state and functioning.…”

Enhanced dehydroepiandrosterone levels are positively correlated with N3 sleep stage in long-term mindfulness meditation practitioners

“…This allostatic boost appears to be more in the early morning riser 64,65 irrespective of the mode of waking up, i.e., spontaneously or by an alarm 66 and chronotype of the person 67 . There are reports showing higher morning cortisol levels with mindfulness meditation practice 36,68 . However, the latest report on TM practice in young adults shows no increase in early morning cortisol levels when compared to the waitlist control group 37 .…”

“…Mindfulness meditation intervention in cancer patients improves sleep quality and is associated with reduced random cortisol levels without affecting melatonin and DHEA 25 . But higher early morning cortisol levels is attributed to adequate sleep and is observed in yoga and mindfulness practitioners but not with TM practice [35][36][37] . These inconsistencies on the effect of meditation practices on hormones are not yet resolved though it was first reported decades back 38 , and the influence of meditation practice on sleep-associated hormonal profiles is sparingly evaluated.…”