Different criteria of sleep latency and the effect of melatonin on sleep consolidation.
OBJECTIVE
Since there is no consensus definition of sleep onset, we studied different aspects of initial sleep periods in healthy volunteers taking melatonin. Two criteria for sleep latency were used: 10 minutes of uninterrupted sleep and 1.5 minutes of stage 1 sleep.


METHODS
Forty healthy male volunteers (mean age 28 +/- 5 years) were assigned to 2 groups: 30 ingested melatonin and 10 placebo.


METHODS
All volunteers underwent an initial polysomnogram (baseline) after a 1-night adaptation period. The next day, the placebo or a 10-mg dose of melatonin was administered for 28 days, 1 hour before sleep time, in double-blind fashion. The second polysomnogram was recorded on day 14.


METHODS
Sleep laboratory


RESULTS
Chronic melatonin administration led to a significant reduction in sleep latency, using only the criterion 10 minutes of uninterrupted sleep. This effect suggests that melatonin may have a hypnotic effect, and the use of melatonin may lead to better sleep consolidation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show differences that have clinical implications, since the criteria used to diagnose initial insomnia were based on sleep onset.
Pinto
Luciano Ribeiro
LR
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. luciano@psicobio.epm.br
Seabra
Maria de Lourdes
Mde L
Tufik
Sergio
S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004585:Electrooculography; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
D008550:Melatonin