Exploring the Role of Melatonin in Meditation on Cardiovascular Health

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of disease burden globally. Sleep and cardiovascular connection represent a two-way lane. Recently, many reports have suggested that meditation practices have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular diseases. But the exact mechanism was not known. Several reports suggest that meditation induces the secretion of melatonin. The rhythm of melatonin follows a sleep pattern. Thus, the present hypothesis correlates the plausible mechanisms involved in meditation with enhancing cardiac health through melatonin synthesis. An altered modern lifestyle decreases the level of melatonin which disrupts the circadian rhythm, and subsequently, there is a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The disrupted cardiac energy metabolism is distorted due to altered circadian rhythm with elevated ROS. The increased level of ROS activates the inflammatory mediators' cytokines and damages the DNA, resulting in altered cardiac physiology. Melatonin regulates the circadian rhythm and acts as a silent regulator for the cardiac energy balance. Melatonin is the central player of circadian rhythm, and it protects cardiomyocytes by acting as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory mediator, and repairing DNA damage. Meditation induces melatonin and improves cardiac health through the aforementioned mechanisms.