Trials of Maharishi Ayurveda for cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of outcome studies with carotid intima-media thickness.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate a multimodality, natural medicine systems approach-Maharishi Ayurveda (MAV)-for prevention or reversal of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

DESIGN

Pooled analysis of data from existing trials that used MAV to reduce carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT).

SETTINGS

Two large medical centers in the U.S. Midwest.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-four elderly patients with or at high risk for ASCVD.

INTERVENTIONS

Four components of MAV: Transcendental Meditation, Ayurvedic diet, Ayurvedic exercise, and Ayurvedic herbal food supplements.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

CIMT, a surrogate measure of ASCVD, was determined by B-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS

After 9-12 months of intervention, CIMT declined in the MAV group (change in CIMT = -0.15 ± 0.22 mm; 95% CI = -0.22 to 0.01 mm) and increased in the usual care group (change in CIMT = + 0.02 ± 0.06 mm; 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.04). This difference between groups of -0.17 mm was significant [(1,29) = 14.1, << .01]. In the MAV group, those individuals showing the largest reductions in CIMT with treatment also had the highest risk factor levels at the start. Baseline data from this subgroup indicated the presence of hypertension, (systolic blood pressure (SBP) = 141 ± 11 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) = 80 ± 12 mmHg, means ± SD). They also had elevated waist circumference (91 ± 8 cm), and dyslipidemia (triglyceride-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio = 4.8 ± 2.9). Each individual in this "high-CIMT-change" group, 80% of whom were women, improved notably in one or more risk factors with the MAV intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled results of these two trials suggest that MAV multimodality intervention programs, including the Transcendental Meditation technique and heart-healthy Ayurvedic diet, exercise, and herbal food supplements, may be effective in the regression of ASCVD, especially in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease.