[The effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on the sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation in men living at high altitude].
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes of sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) during sleep in men living at high altitude, and to investigate the effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on these sleep indexes.


METHODS
Twenty-four men aged 18 to 21 years who had stayed at high altitude (5 380 m above sea level) for 1 year were randomly divided into groups A (treated with oral rhodiola), B (treated with oral acetazolamide) and C (treated with rhodiola + acetazolamide). Their sleep architecture and SaO(2) were recorded for 24 days before and after taking the medicines.


RESULTS
Compared with baseline, the waking SaO(2) (WSaO(2)), the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) and the mean SaO(2) (MSaO(2)) were increased significantly after treatment for 24 days (P < 0.01), and the times of oxygen desaturation >/= 4% per hour (DI4) and the percentage of time spent at SaO(2) below 80% (SIT(80)) were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NREM I and II was shortened, and III + IV and REM sleep were prolonged (P < 0.01): the total waking time (TWT) was shortened, and the sleep efficiency index (SEI) was markedly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with group A's, groups B's and C's SIT(80) were increased (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both rhodiola and acetazolamide were effective in modulating the sleep architecture and improving the sleep quality in young men living at high altitude, but there was no synergistic effect between rhodiola and acetazolamide.
Ha
Zhende
Z
The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
Zhu
Yong'an
Y
Zhang
Xizhou
X
Cui
Jianhua
J
Zhang
Suping
S
Ma
Yong
Y
Wang
Wei
W
Jian
Xinqiong
X
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D029771:Rhodiola; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
D000086:Acetazolamide; D010100:Oxygen