Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) in adults with self-reported stress. A randomized trial

Long-term stress can lead to long-term increased cortisol plasma levels, which increases the risk of numerous diseases. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated form dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), together DHEA(S), have shown to counteract some of the effects of cortisol and may be protective during stress. The program 'Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction' (MBSR) has shown to have positive effects on stress. The present study examined a possible effect of MBSR on DHEAS in plasma compared to a waiting list and a locally developed stress reduction program (LSR) in people with self-reported stress. The study was a three-armed randomized controlled trial conducted in a municipal health care center in Denmark. It included 71 participants with self-reported stress randomized to either MBSR (n=24), LSR (n=23) or a waiting list (n=24). Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 12 weeks follow-up to estimate effects of MBSR on DHEAS. The effect of MBSR on DHEAS was statistically significant compared to both waiting list and LSR. We found a mean effect of 0.70 µmol/L (95%CI 0.18 to 1.22) higher DHEAS in the MBSR group compared with the waiting list group and a mean effect of 0.54 µmol/L (95%CI 0.04 to 1.05) higher DHEAS in the MBSR group compared with the LSR group. Findings indicate an effect on DHEAS of the MBSR program compared to a waiting list and LSR program in people with self-reported stress. However, we consider our findings hypothesis-generating and validation by future studies is essential.