Detection of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol high levels in monks practicing Samatha and Vipassana meditation

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Associations between psychological stress and the development of cardiovascular events and stroke have been established. Meditation is recognized as a method to reduce the stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the anthropometry, serum glucose and serum cholesterol status in monks practicing Samatha and Vipassana meditation living in forest hermitages. Methods This cross-sectional study compared 115 meditating Buddhist monks (71 meditating >6 months, 45 meditating Results From parameters tested, the HDL cholesterol level was higher (53.8\u2009±\u20095.3\u2009mg/dL) (P\u2009 6 months compared with naive ( Conclusion Meditating monks had a higher HDL cholesterol, lowest total cholesterol: HDL ratio and the other parameters tested had mean levels closer to the lower limit of the normal range, indicating a possible protective effect of meditation on cardiovascular diseases and stroke. These results may be related to the duration of practicing Samatha and Vipassana meditation but require confirmation using appropriate clinical trial methodology.