Role of yoga and meditation on serum DHEAS level in first year medical students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20182280Keywords:
DHEAS, Medical students, Meditation, YogaAbstract
Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), secreted by adrenal cortex, acts in the human body as a neurosteroid, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and immune-enhancing agent. It is also reported as a youth hormone. But due to various stimulators of stress, and also as an antagonist of cortisol, DHEAS level decreases. Yoga and meditation regulates the level of hormones and neurotransmitters that affect physiological function.
Methods: This study was performed on 1st yr. medical students whose DHEAS level was low due to acute stress. 55 medical students were selected as participants through counseling and were divided into Yoga group (n= 27) and control group (n=28). Their morning serum DHEAS level was assessed and yoga group were instructed to practice Yoga (1hr/day for 12 weeks) under supervision of Yoga instructor. No such instruction was given to control group.
Results: As a marker of youth and immunity, increase in DHEAS level decreases susceptibility to infections, reduces aging process as well as improves other functions. Yoga and meditation is documented to increase DHEAS level in regular practitioners. Statistical analysis has shown an increase in morning S. DHEAS level in yoga practitioners. Pre-study and post study values were 3.5±2.48 and 3.61±1.73 respectively in yoga group (overall 3.1% increase, P Value = 0.025, significant at 0.05) whereas 3.36±1.98 and 2.58±1.49 respectively in control group (23.2% decrease, P Value =0.84, not significant).
Conclusions: This study concludes that practicing Yoga has significantly raised S. DHEAS level in medical students and improved their immunological status as well as enhances mood and behavior.
References
Chatterjee S, Mondal S. Effect of regular yogic training on growth hormone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as an endocrine marker of aging. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014;2014.
Chu P, Gotink RA, Yeh GY, Goldie SJ, Hunink MG. The effectiveness of yoga in modifying risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016 Feb;23(3):291-307.
Corey SM, Epel E, Schembri M, Pawlowsky SB, Cole RJ, Araneta MRG, et al. Effect of restorative yoga vs. stretching on diurnal cortisol dynamics and psychosocial outcomes in individuals with the metabolic syndrome: The PRYSMS randomized controlled trial. J Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Nov;49:260-271.
Kamei T, Kimura YTH, Kumano H, Ohno S, Kimura K. Decrease in serum cortisol during yoga exercise is correlated with alpha wave activation. SAGE J. 2000;90(3):1027-32.
Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC. Current directions in stress and human immune function. Current Opinion Psychol. 2015;5:13-7.
Riley V, Firzmaurice MA, Regelson W. DHEA and thymus integrity in the mouse. In: Kalimi M, Regelson W, eds. Biologic role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Berlin: DeGruyter;1990:131-55.
Kimonides VG, Khatibi NH, Svendsen CN, Sofroniew MV, Herbert J. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) protect hippocampal neurons against excitatory amino acid-induced neurotoxicity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1998 Feb 17;95(4):1852-7.
Boxer RS, Kleppinger A, Brindisi J, Feinn R, Burleson JA, Kenny AM. Age Ageing. 2010 Jul;39(4):451-8.
ó Hartaigh B, Loerbroks A, Thomas GN, Engeland CG, Hollands MA, Fischer JE, et al. Age-dependent and-independent associations between depression, anxiety, DHEAS, and cortisol: from the MIPH Industrial Cohort Studies (MICS). Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 Jul 1;37(7):929-36.
MacLean CR, Walton KG, Wenneberg SR, Levitsky DK, Mandarino JV, Waziri R, et al. Altered responses of cortisol, GH, TSH and testosterone to acute stress after four months' practice of transcendental meditation (TM). Annals of the New York Academy Sciences. 1994 Nov 1;746(1):381-4.