Effect of 3 mg melatonin on jet lag syndrome in an 8-h eastward flight.
In order to assess the effect of melatonin on jet lag a field study was undertaken. The process of re-entrainment of circadian melatonin rhythm was investigated in six subjects. Except during 24-h blood sampling, the subjects were exposed to natural zeitgeber (time giver) outdoors and given 3 mg melatonin at 23:00 h. The subjects were exposed to bright sunlight from 3000 to 12000 lx. All of them showed orthodromic re-entrainment with taking melatonin, while two out of the six did not show orthodromic re-entrainment without taking melatonin. Melatonin accelerated the rate of the re-entrainment of the circadian melatonin rhythm. Melatonin was useful to jet travel from Tokyo to Los Angeles.
Takahashi
T
T
Department of Psychiatry, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. tositaka@bd.mbn.or.jp
Sasaki
M
M
Itoh
H
H
Ozone
M
M
Yamadera
W
W
Hayshida
K
K
Ushijima
S
S
Matsunaga
N
N
Obuchi
K
K
Sano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020179:Jet Lag Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
D008550:Melatonin