22 December 2005
Association between oxygen consumption and nitric oxide production during therelaxation response.
Jeffery A. Dusek, Bei-Hung Chang, Jamil Zaki, Sara W. Lazar, Sara Lazar, George B. Stefano, Ann L. Wohlhueter, Patricia L. Hibberd, Herbert BensonMed Sci Monit 2006; 12(1): CR1-10 :: ID: 443179
Abstract
Background: Mind/body practices that elicit the relaxation response (RR)are currently practiced by over 30% of American adults. RR elicitation reduces volumetric oxygen consumption(VO[sub]2[/sub]) from rest and counteracts the effects of stress, although the mechanisms mediating the RR remainunknown. This study was designed to investigate whether RR elicitation is mediated by nitric oxide (NO).We developed a method to quantify depth of RR using change in VO[sub]2[/sub] (slope) during RR elicitation. Weevaluated whether depth of RR elicitation was correlated with changes in NO, as measured by percentagechanges in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F[sub]E[/sub]NO). Material/Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlledtrial, in which 46 subjects were randomized to either 8-weeks of RR training using audiotapes (n=34)or 8-weeks of exposure to a control condition - receiving health-education by audiotapes (n=12). Priorto randomization, VO[sub]2[/sub]and F[sub]E[/sub]NO were measured while subjects listened to a control audiotape. Eightweeks later, VO[sub]2[/sub]and F[sub]E[/sub]NO were measured while the RR group listened to a RR-eliciting audiotape andthe control group listened to a control audiotape. Results: Prior to receiving any training, there wasno association between VO[sub]2[/sub]slope and F[sub]E[/sub]NO. After training, there was an inverse correlation betweenVO[sub]2[/sub] slope and F[sub]E[/sub]NO in the RR group (r=-0.41, P=0.037, n=26), but not in the control group (r=0.12,P=0.78, n=8). Conclusions: Depth of RR elicitation was associated with increased concentrations of F[sub]E[/sub]NOafter RR training. The RR may be mediated by NO helping to explain its clinical effects in stress-relateddisorders.
Keywords: Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis, Relaxation - physiology, Relaxation Therapy, Statistics as Topic, Tape Recording
Editorial
01 March 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-ThalassemiaDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
In Press
18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136
21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast CancerMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049
22 Feb 2024 : Review article
Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168
23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732
Most Viewed Current Articles
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952