Effect of 3 mg melatonin on jet lag syndrome in an 8‐h eastward flight

Abstract

In order to assess the effect of melatonin on jet lag a field study was undertaken. The process of re-entrainment of circadian melatonin rhythm was investigated in six subjects. Except during 24-h blood sampling, the subjects were exposed to natural zeitgeber (time giver) outdoors and given 3 mg melatonin at 23:00 h. The subjects were exposed to bright sunlight from 3000 to 12 000 lx. All of them showed orthodromic re-entrainment with taking melatonin, while two out of the six did not show orthodromic re-entrainment without taking melatonin. Melatonin accelerated the rate of the re-entrainment of the circadian melatonin rhythm. Melatonin was useful to jet travel from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

Generation of the Melatonin Endocrine Message in Mammals: A Review of the Complex Regulation of Melatonin Synthesis by Norepinephrine, Peptides, and Other Pineal Transmitters

“…In humans, this "chronobiotic" property of MEL has been used to help re-synchronize individuals showing disrupted circadian rhythms, for example, related to "delayed sleep phase" syndrome, jet-lag, night shift work, or in some blind people (Arendt et al, 1984(Arendt et al, , 1988(Arendt et al, , 1997Lewy et al, 1992;Claustrat et al, 1995;Skene et al, 1996;Lockley et al, 2000;Takahashi et al, 2000).…”

Re‐entrainment of the circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin in an 11‐h eastward bound flight

“…Seven of eight subjects showed antidromic re‐entrainment in the MLT rhythm, and the other subject (subject YA) showed orthodromic re‐entrainment in NYC (Table 1). 2 The rate of re‐entrainment was 65.2 min per day in antidromic re‐entrainment 3 . It was fine on the first day and the fourth day.…”

“…Blood samples were immediately centrifuged and plasma was stored in the refrigerator. After they were taken back to Japan with dry ice, plasma level of MLT was assessed with radioimmunoassay 2,3 . We analyzed the rising and falling phase points, which were the points of half of the peak.…”

“…If we travel to New York, our circadian oscillator takes the reversal phase of day–night cycle. We do not know the direction of the re‐entrainment in the circadian rhythm (orthodromic vs antidromic) 2,3 . We aimed to assess the re‐entrainment of plasma melatonin (MLT) rhythm in New York.…”

Using Lost in Translation to Prepare Students for the Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Realities of International Business

“…Helpful hints include avoiding caffeine prior to and during travel, avoiding alcohol, doing light exercise when one arrives, staying awake in the new time zone until the normal sleeping time, and considering the use of melatonin. While research is still being conducted in the use of melatonin (Srinivasan, Spence, Pandi-Perumal, Trakht, & Cardinali, 2008;Takahashi, et al, 2000), early results tend to confirm that fast release (sublingual) melatonin is more effective than slow release versions (Arendt, Skene, Middleton, Lockley, & Deacon, 1997). The business traveler who intentionally seeks to minimize the detrimental effects of jet lag is likely to exhibit better performance and remain spiritually healthier.…”