Baskett JJ, Wood PC, Broad JB, Duncan JR, English J, Arendt J. Melatonin in older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems: a comparison with age matched normal sleepers.
Sleep 2001;
24:418-24. [PMID:
11403526 DOI:
10.1093/sleep/24.4.418]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES
To determine whether older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems have significantly lower melatonin levels than comparable normal sleepers.
DESIGN
Case-control study.
SETTING
A largely urban population, Auckland, New Zealand.
PARTICIPANTS
People over the age of 65 years, who either slept normally, or had age-related sleep maintenance problems. Participants were recruited through media advertising, and local interest groups. Initial screening was by mail (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), followed by interviews at a hospital day clinic. Exclusions included those with depression, cognitive impairment, medical and/or environmental problems which might impair sleep.
INTERVENTIONS
N/A.
MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
A metabolite of plasma melatonin, 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was measured in the urine of 57 normal sleepers, and 53 people with age-related problems over 24 hours in three aliquots: 12:00-19:00h, 19:00-07:00h, 07:00-12:00h. There were clear differences in self reported quality of sleep but no difference in mean aMT6s 24 hour or total night excretory levels, or night/day ratios.
CONCLUSIONS
Older people with age-related sleep maintenance problems do not have lower melatonin levels than older people reporting normal sleep.
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