Melatonin helps get better sleep even in noisy conditions

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 20 Maret 2015 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: Chinese researchers have found that small doses of sleep regulating hormone melatonin ensure better quality sleep even if the surroundings are noisy and lit up. They compared the effect of melatonin with use of an eye mask and earplugs and found that the hormone is much better. The study is published in the open access journal Critical Care.

The purpose of the study was to find out how patients in intensive care units (ICU) can get a good sleep despite lights being on and constant sounds from machines, attendants and patients.

In ICUs, disturbances throughout the night have been linked to slower recovery. This has led clinicians to investigate ways of reducing sleep disturbances. But the results may have applications under normal circumstances too for people sleeping in noisy environments. Melatonin is secreted by the body to regulate sleep, usually in periods of darkness.

Synthetic melatonin is used to boost the body's own melatonin levels to treat some sleep disorders, and sometimes as a means of overcoming jet lag. Researchers from Capital Medical University in Beijing recruited 40 healthy participants to study the effects simulated ICU conditions had on sleep patterns.

The research was conducted in the sleep lab of Fuzhou Children's Hospital of Fujian Province in collaboration with Professor Ling Shen. Lead researcher, Professor Xiu-Ming Xi from Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University, says: "Both use of oral melatonin and use of earplugs and eye masks improve sleep quality at different levels, especially melatonin. Discomfort from use of earplugs and eye masks might affect sleep quality, which wasn't reported with melatonin.

Therefore, compared to earplugs and eye masks, melatonin showed up the better performance in effectiveness and the tolerance of participants." For the first four nights all participants underwent an adjustment period in which a recording from a typical night shift at an ICU was played and light levels were the same as in the hospital while they slept. Then, the participants were randomly divided into four equal groups but continued to sleep in the simulated ICU. The first group did not receive any sleep aid. The second were provided with eye masks and earplugs. The third group took 1mg of fast-release oral melatonin when going to bed. The final group of participants was given a placebo. The participants did not know if they were receiving melatonin or placebo.

During the study period all participants' melatonin levels were tested hourly by taking blood samples. The quality of sleep was assessed using specialist equipment that measured brain activity, eye movement and muscle tension. Anxiety levels and sleep quality were also evaluated by getting participants to self-evaluate the following morning.

It was found that all sleep patterns were disturbed by exposure to the simulated ICU environment. This resulted in feelings of anxiety and reduced quality of sleep. Those participants that used either eye masks and earplugs or oral melatonin had improved sleep. Those who took melatonin were found to have decreased awakenings during the night even compared to the eye mask and earplugs group.

The quality of the sleep was also found to be much improved for those taking melatonin, with reported lower anxiety levels and increased REM sleep - thought to be linked to improved cognitive restoration.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=sleep,Research,Melatonin,hormone,chinese

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