The DOI matches its Crossref record; 21 of the 21 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Melatonin Treatment for Age-Related Insomnia
Abstract
Older people typically exhibit poor sleep efficiency and reduced nocturnal plasma melatonin levels. The daytime administration of oral melatonin to younger people, in doses that raise their plasma melatonin levels to the nocturnal range, can accelerate sleep onset. We examined the ability of similar, physiological doses to restore nighttime melatonin levels and sleep efficiency in insomniac subjects over 50 yr old. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, subjects who slept normally (n = 15) or exhibited actigraphically confirmed decreases in sleep efficiency (n = 15) received, in randomized order, a placebo and three melatonin doses (0.1, 0.3, and 3.0 mg) orally 30 min before bedtime for a week. Treatments were separated by 1-wk washout periods. Sleep data were obtained by polysomnography on the last three nights of each treatment period. The physiologic melatonin dose (0.3 mg) restored sleep efficiency (P < 0.0001), acting principally in the midthird of the night; it also elevated plasma melatonin levels (P < 0.0008) to normal. The pharmacologic dose (3.0 mg), like the lowest dose (0.1 mg), also improved sleep; however, it induced hypothermia and caused plasma melatonin to remain elevated into the daylight hours. Although control subjects, like insomniacs, had low melatonin levels, their sleep was unaffected by any melatonin dose.
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“The low dose in the study did not raise melatonin levels into the normal range.”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [278]
In the citing paper
“They found the best objective data at 0.3 mg of melatonin.”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [278]
Citations
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Sateia, M. J., Buysse, D. J., Krystal, A. D., Neubauer, D. N., & Heald, J. L. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine · doi:10.5664/jcsm.6470 · Cited by 1,519
Riemersma-van der Lek, R. F. (2008) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.299.22.2642 · Cited by 803
REVIEW: Gastrointestinal Melatonin: Localization, Function, and Clinical Relevance
Bubenik, G. A. (2002) · Digestive Diseases and Sciences · doi:10.1023/a:1020107915919 · Cited by 655
Human pineal physiology and functional significance of melatonin
Macchi, M. M., & Bruce, J. N. (2004) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2004.08.001 · Cited by 545
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Metadata
- Authors
- Zhdanova, I. V., Wurtman, R. J., Regan, M. M., Taylor, J. A., Shi, J. P., & Leclair, O. U.
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wurtman, Richard J.
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2001-10
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 4727-4730
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2097890124
- Cited by
- 308
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 4.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Institutes of Health (1r01ag013667-01, RR 00088)
- National Institute on Aging (R01 AG 13667)
- National Center for Research Resources (MO1 RR-02172, M01RR002172, MO1-RR00088, M01RR000088)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Keywords
- melatonin, sleep efficiency, plasma melatonin levels, older adults, nocturnal melatonin secretion, sleep onset, hypothermia, actigraphy
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aged, Body Temperature, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Melatonin, Middle Aged
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