Study on the effect of meditation on healthy intestinal flora

Research has already confirmed that gut flora or gut microbiota can influence health through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. With mental training such as mediation, we can regulate our physical and mental health. In this study, the researchers investigated how years of deep meditation affect the structure of the gut microbiota and thus also physical and mental health.

Stool samples from 56 Tibetan Buddhist monks and neighboring residents were examined with regard to the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The sequencing data formed the basis for treatment of linear discriminant effect size analysis (LEfSe) to identify different microbial communities in the gut of the two groups. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) was used to predict the function of the fecal microbiota. In addition, biochemical indices in plasma were evaluated.

The researchers came to the conclusion that long-term traditional Tibetan Buddhist meditation can have a positive effect on physical and mental health. They were also able to confirm differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between the monks and the control subjects. The enriched microbiota in the monks was associated with a lower risk of anxiety, depression and cardiovascular disease and could improve immune function. These results suggest that meditation plays a positive role in psychosomatic illness and well-being.