Sleep-facilitating effect of exogenous melatonin in healthy young men and women is circadian-phase dependent.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of a physiologic and a pharmacologic dose of exogenous melatonin on sleep latency and sleep efficiency in sleep episodes initiated across a full range of circadian phases.


METHODS
Double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group design in a 27-day forced desynchrony paradigm with a 20-hour scheduled sleep-wake cycle.


METHODS
Private suite of a general clinical research center, in the absence of time-of-day information.


METHODS
Thirty-six healthy, 18- to 30-year-old, men (n = 21) and women (n = 15).


METHODS
Oral melatonin (0.3 mg or 5.0 mg) or identical-appearing placebo was administered 30 minutes prior to each 6.67-hour sleep episode during forced desynchrony.


RESULTS
Both doses of melatonin improved polysomnographically determined sleep efficiency from 77% in the placebo group to 83% for sleep episodes occurring during circadian phases when endogenous melatonin was absent. However, this remained below the average sleep efficiency of 88% observed during sleep episodes scheduled during the circadian night, when endogenous melatonin was present. Melatonin did not significantly affect sleep initiation or core body temperature. Melatonin appeared to maintain efficacy across the study and did not significantly affect percentages of slow-wave sleep or rapid eye movement sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Exogenous melatonin administration possesses circadian-phase-dependent hypnotic properties, allowing for improved consolidation of sleep that occurs out of phase with endogenous melatonin secretion during the circadian night. The results support the hypothesis that both exogenous and endogenous melatonin attenuate the wake-promoting drive from the circadian system.
Wyatt
James K
JK
Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women a Hospital & Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. jwyatt@rush.edu
Dijk
Derk-Jan
DJ
Ritz-de Cecco
Angela
A
Ronda
Joseph M
JM
Czeisler
Charles A
CA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000975:Antioxidants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008550:Melatonin