title: Melatonin in older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems: a comparison with age matched normal sleepers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems have significantly lower melatonin levels than comparable normal sleepers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A largely urban population, Auckland, New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  People over the age of 65 years, who either slept normally, or had age-related sleep maintenance problems. Participants were recruited through media advertising, and local interest groups. Initial screening was by mail (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), followed by interviews at a hospital day clinic. Exclusions included those with depression, cognitive impairment, medical and/or environmental problems which might impair sleep.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A metabolite of plasma melatonin, 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was measured in the urine of 57 normal sleepers, and 53 people with age-related problems over 24 hours in three aliquots: 12:00-19:00h, 19:00-07:00h, 07:00-12:00h. There were clear differences in self reported quality of sleep but no difference in mean aMT6s 24 hour or total night excretory levels, or night/day ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems do not have lower melatonin levels than older people reporting normal sleep.
authors.affiliation: Waitemata Health Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand. baskettj@whl.co.nz
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Baskett
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Broad
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arendt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin