Effects of mindfulness-based therapy on clinical symptoms and DNA methylation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and high metabolic risk

Dema, Hana (author), Videtič Paska, Alja (author), Kouter, Katarina (author), Katrašnik, Mojca (author), Jensterle Sever, Mojca (author), Janež, Andrej (author), Oblak, Aleš (author), Škodlar, Borut (author), Bon, Jurij (author)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Research has shown that epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation may play a role in the development and progression of abnormal ovarian function and metabolic disorders in PCOS. Studies have identified specific genes (related with insulin signaling and steroid hormone metabolism) that are methylated in women with PCOS. DNA methylation appears to respond to various interventions aimed at altering health and lifestyle factors. We tested the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) in PCOS patients. We examined its effects on anthropometric measurements, mental health and wellbeing, and alterations in DNA methylation in peripheral blood. MBSR was associated with a reduction in body mass index, waist circumference and blood glucose level, an improvement in subjectively perceived general health, emotional role limitation, and levels of pain, as well as mindfulness-like traits. MBSR reduced the expression of anxious symptomatology and subjectively perceived stress. Methylation changes were observed in four genes: COMT, FST, FKBP51, and MAOA. We conclude that MBSR may be a useful supplementary therapy to mitigate the deleterious effects of PCOS on mental health.

• Language: English
• Keywords: mindfulness-based stress reduction program, polycystic ovary syndrome, DNA methylation, epigenetics, candidate genes, depression, anxiety
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 2717-2737
• Numbering: Vol. 45, iss. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-165217
• UDC: 616.4
• ISSN on article: 1467-3045
• DOI: 10.3390/cimb45040178
• COBISS.SI-ID: 146533635
• Publication date in RUL: 27.11.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Current issues in molecular biology
• Shortened title: Curr. issues mol. biol.
• Publisher: Caister Academic.
• ISSN: 1467-3045
• COBISS.SI-ID: 521769497

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: program zmanjševanja stresa, ki temelji na čuječnosti, polycystic ovary syndrome, DNA methylation, epigeneza, kandidatni geni, drepresija, anksioznost