Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2023
Isha yoga practices, vegan diet, and participation in Samyama meditation retreat: impact on the gut microbiome & metabolome - a non-randomized trial.
Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effects of an 8-day Advanced Meditation Samyama, on Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Well-being ,and Associated Neural Mechanisms
Changes in Microbiota and Biochemical Markers in Healthy Subjects Before and After Meditation Practices in a Controlled Environment
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Psychobiotic, nutritional, and behavioral interventions targeting the microbiome-gut-brain axis in depression, anxiety, and stress: a scoping review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Metabolomic profiles impacted by brief mindfulness intervention with contributions to improved health.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Rapid shift of gut microbiome and enrichment of beneficial microbes during arhatic yoga meditation retreat in a single-arm pilot study.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Trial
- Non-duality in brain and experience of advanced meditators-key role for intrinsic neural timescales.Communications biology · 2026Article
- Association between the planetary health diet and sleep health in older adults: findings from a national community-based study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Effects of Isha Yoga Practices on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Controlled Studies.Cureus · 2026Review
- Intestinal microbial remodeling and metabolite regulation may be related to the improvement of social avoidance in depressed mice by Modified Xiaoyaosan.Frontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Neural and molecular changes during a mind-body reconceptualization, meditation, and open label placebo healing intervention.Communications biology · 2025Observational
- Review
- Review
- Advancing Gastrointestinal Microbiota Research in Systemic Sclerosis: Lessons Learned from Prior Research and Opportunities to Accelerate Discovery.Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America · 2025Review
- Article
- Nutritional analysis of vegan recipes: From social media to plate.Food science & nutrition · 2024Article
- The Effect of Dietary Types on Gut Microbiota Composition and Development of Non-Communicable Diseases: A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2024Review
- Improving precision management of anxiety disorders: a Mendelian randomization study targeting specific gut microbiota and associated metabolites.Frontiers in microbiology · 2024Article
- Effect of Yoga and Meditation on Human Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review.International journal of yogaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGrowing evidence suggests a role for gut bacteria and their metabolites in host-signaling responses along the gut-brain axis which may impact mental health. Meditation is increasingly utilized to combat stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. However, its impact on the microbiome remains unclear. This study observes the effects of preparation and participation in an advanced meditation program (Samyama) implemented with a vegan diet including 50% raw foods, on gut microbiome and metabolites profiles.
methodsThere were 288 subjects for this study. Stool samples were collected at 3-time points for meditators and household controls. Meditators prepared for 2 months for the Samyama, incorporating daily yoga and meditation practices with a vegan diet including 50% raw foods. Subjects were requested to submit stool samples for 3 time points - 2 months before Samyama (T1), right before Samyama (T2), and 3 months following Samyama (T3). 16 s rRNA sequencing was used to study participants' microbiome. Alpha and beta diversities along with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) were assessed. Metabolomics were performed on a mass spectrometer coupled to a UHLPC system and analyzed by El-MAVEN software.
resultsAlpha diversity showed no significant differences between meditators and controls, while beta diversity showed significant changes (padj = 0.001) after Samyama in meditators' microbiota composition. After the preparation phase, changes in branched short-chain fatty acids, higher levels of iso-valerate (padj = 0.02) and iso-buytrate (padj = 0.019) were observed at T2 in meditators. Other metabolites were also observed to have changed in meditators at timepoint T2.
conclusionThis study examined the impact of an advanced meditation program combined with a vegan diet on the gut microbiome. There was an increase in beneficial bacteria even three months after the completion of the Samyama program. Further study is warranted to validate current observations and investigate the significance and mechanisms of action related to diet, meditation, and microbial composition and function, on psychological processes, including mood.
trial registrationRegistration number: NCT04366544 ; Registered on 29/04/2020.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.