title: Sleep-promoting effects of melatonin: at what dose, in whom, under what conditions, and by what mechanisms?
abstract: Differing conclusions regarding the sleep-promoting effects of melatonin may be the result of the broad range of doses employed (0.1-2000 mg), the differing categories of subjects tested (normal subjects, insomniac patients, elderly, etc.), and the varying times of administration (for daytime vs. nighttime sleep). We conclude that melatonin may benefit sleep by correcting circadian phase abnormalities and/or by a modest direct soporific effect that is most evident following daytime administration to younger subjects. We speculate that these effects are mediated by interactions with specific receptors concentrated in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that result in resetting of the circadian pacemaker and/or attenuation of an SCN-dependent circadian alerting process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lewy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D008550:Melatonin