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Melatonin is increasingly being used for the treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which can affect shift workers and air travelers. To clarify melatonin's mechanism of action, this randomized cross-over study examined its hypnotic and hypothermic effects.
Researchers administered 3 mg or 9 mg of melatonin or placebo at 9:30 am to six healthy men while they sat in a chair from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm in a room with constant low-level light and a controlled temperature. They were fed breakfast at 7:00 am and lunch at 12:00 pm. Both doses of melatonin induced a peak rise in serum melatonin and suppression of temperature around 11:00 am. Decreased sleep latency at multiple points throughout the day was observed after the higher melatonin do…