Influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and catechol O-methyl transferase polymorphisms on effects of meditation on plasma catecholamines and stress

Figures & data

Table I.  Plasma catecholamine concentrations according to BDNF Val66Met and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms.

	Control (n = 57)			Meditation (n = 80)
	V/V (n = 21)	V/M (n = 25)	M/M (n = 11)	V/V (n = 19)	V/M (n = 44)	M/M (n = 17)	p-value (ANCOVA)
BDNF genotype
Norepinephrine (ng/l)	159.1 ± 23.0	121.0 ± 16.1	120.9 ± 18.6	140.0 ± 14.9	119.4 ± 11.1	138.2 ± 11.6	0.585
Epinephrine (ng/l)	39.0 ± 5.4	37.0 ± 4.5	28.3 ± 8.0	31.3 ± 3.7	34.6 ± 2.8	37.4 ± 5.4	0.277
Dopamine (ng/l)	19.8 ± 3.7	14.4 ± 2.1	19.7 ± 3.7	26.1 ± 3.7	22.5 ± 2.3	16.3 ± 2.4	0.207
NE/E+NE/DA ratio	34.0 ± 11.4	24.3 ± 6.8	16.1 ± 3.0	16.5 ± 3.0	12.8 ± 2.3	29.1 ± 11.6	0.142
E/NE+E/DA ratio	4.0 ± 0.8	8.2 ± 3.7	1.9 ± 0.5	2.3 ± 0.5	3.1 ± 0.4	7.2 ± 4.2	0.096
	V/V (n = 20)	V/M (n = 28)	M/M (n = 9)	V/V (n = 38)	V/M (n = 30)	M/M (n = 12)
COMT genotype
Epinephrine (ng/l)	33.4 ± 6.1	39.4 ± 4.2	31.5 ± 7.6	33.2 ± 2.8	34.5 ± 3.4	38.0 ± 7.2	0.585
Dopamine (ng/l)	17.8 ± 4.2	17.3 ± 7.6	17.0 ± 3.2	20.2 ± 2.3	22.6 ± 2.7	26.2 ± 4.6	0.648
NE/E+NE/DA ratio	21.9 ± 3.6	32.7 ± 10.1	15.7 ± 3.3	18.9 ± 5.3	17.0 ± 3.6	12.0 ± 2.8	0.554
E/NE+E/DA ratio	3.6 ± 1.0	7.5 ± 3.3	2.9 ± 0.7	4.8 ± 1.9	3.1 ± 0.6	2.3 ± 0.4	0.341
DA/NE+DA/E ratio	1.1 ± 0.2	0.8 ± 0.1	1.2 ± 0.5	1.2 ± 0.2	1.2 ± 0.2	1.4 ± 0.3	0.616

Note: The data were analyzed by two-way ANCOVA with control and meditation subjects and gene polymorphisms as factors and the duration of meditation as a covariate. The p-value indicates interaction effects by two-way ANCOVA. Abbreviations: DA, dopamine; E, epinephrine; NE, norepinephrine; ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; V/V, valine/valine; V/M, valine/methionine; M/M, methionine/methionine polymorphism.

Figure 1.  Different effects of meditation on plasma catecholamine concentrations according to BDNF and COMT genotype. (a) p = 0.042^†: interaction effect by two-way ANCOVA, p = 0.047*: post hoc ANCOVA, p = 0.035*: post hoc Student's t-test, control group: V/V (n = 21), V/M (n = 25), M/M (n = 11), meditation group: V/V(n = 19), V/M(n = 44), M/M(n = 17). (b) p = 0.009^††: interaction effects by two-way ANCOVA, control group: V/V (n = 20), V/M (n = 28), M/M (n = 9), meditation group: V/V (n = 38), V/M (n = 30), M/M (n = 12). Abbreviations: ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; V/V, valine/valine, V/M, valine/methionine, M/M, methionine/methionine polymorphism.

Table II.  Stress levels (SRI) according to BDNF Val66Met and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms.

	Control (n = 53)			Meditation (n = 73)
BDNF genotype	V/V (n = 19)	V/M (n = 23)	M/M (n = 11)	V/V (n = 18)	V/M (n = 39)	M/M (n = 16)
SRI (mean ± SE)	13.5 ± 2.5	15.0 ± 2.2	21.6 ± 4.4	8.6 ± 2.0	6.9 ± 1.1**	4.6 ± 1.0**
COMT genotype	V/V (n = 20)	V/M (n = 25)	M/M (n = 8)	V/V (n = 35)	V/M (n = 28)	M/M (n = 10)
SRI (mean ± SE)	16.3 ± 2.6	14.3 ± 2.3	19.6 ± 4.8	7.2 ± 1.1**	6.4 ± 1.3**	6.6 ± 2.1*

Note: The differences between the control and meditation groups with the same genotypes were analyzed using the Student's t-test. p < 0.05*. p < 0.01**. Abbreviations: SRI, Stress Response Inventory; V/V, valine/valine; V/M, valine/methionine; M/M, methionine/methionine polymorphism.