Melatonin and the reduction or alleviation of stress¹

Abstract

In a double blind and placebo controlled study designed to investigate the effect of melatonin administration at 13:00 hr on menstrual characteristics, prolactin, and premenstrual syndrome-like symptoms during simulated eastward travel, it was noted that melatonin reduces or alleviates the stress associated with the simulated travel. Bright lights were utilized to simulate eastward movement across six time zones. Melatonin (10 mg) was given to healthy females for 5 consecutive days during the late follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Hourly blood samples, used for analysis of melatonin and prolactin levels, were obtained for 24 hr before entering the dose administration phase of the study and again on the last dose day. Volunteers also completed a profile of moods state questionnaire upon waking on each of 8 days which overlapped the in-house dose administration days. The placebo group showed a prolactin peak at 13:00 hr (dose time) on the last dose day/blood draw, while the melatonin group showed a prolactin peak at 15:00 hr. The prolactin peak at 13:00 hr is likely the result of stress, since stress is known to elicit the release of prolactin. The peak at 15:00 hr in the melatonin group was likely elicited by the administration of melatonin. Stress reduction in the melatonin group was supported by results from the profile of moods state questionnaire. The melatonin group consistently demonstrated scores indicative of less stress.

Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study

“…In a double blind placebo controlled study, oral melatonin was found to reduce stress associated with simulated travel in humans. 28 In this study, the two week course of melatonin treatment did not significantly change the frequency of defecation or stool type. It also did not change rectal pressures during squeezing, pushing, or resting states.…”

Melatonin attenuates stress‐induced defecation: lesson from a rat model of stress‐induced gut dysfunction

“…1 Apart from the above functions, melatonin is involved in modulating stress-induced psychological and behavioural disturbances. 3 The finding that the concentration of melatonin in the gastrointestinal tissues surpasses that in the blood by 10-100 times 4 suggests melatonin may also play an important role in the digestive system. 2 In a double-blinded and placebo-controlled study, oral melatonin was found to reduce stress associated with simulated travel in humans.…”

Geographic Variation in Timekeeping Systems among Three Populations of Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) in a Common Garden

“…For example, interactions between the pineal gland and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are well established (e.g., Maestroni et al 1989;Khan et al 1990; Kirby et al 1999). The HPA axis mediates responses to stressors such as predation events or limited food availability by increasing glucocorticoid secretion (Harvey et al 1984;Schwabl et al 1985;Wingfield 1988).…”