The dim light melatonin onset following fixed and free sleep schedules
- PMID:16120097
- PMCID: PMC3841975
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2005.00470.x
The dim light melatonin onset following fixed and free sleep schedules
Abstract
The time at which the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) occurs can be used to ensure the correct timing of light and/or melatonin administration in order to produce desired circadian phase shifts. Sometimes however, measuring the DLMO is not feasible. Here we determined if the DLMO was best estimated from fixed sleep times (based on habitual sleep times) or free (ad libitum) sleep times. Young healthy sleepers on fixed (n=60) or free (n=60) sleep schedules slept at home for 6 days. Sleep times were recorded with sleep logs verified with wrist actigraphy. Half-hourly saliva samples were then collected during a dim light phase assessment and were later assayed to determine the DLMO. We found that the DLMO was more highly correlated with sleep times in the free sleepers than in the fixed sleepers (DLMO versus wake time, r=0.70 and r=0.44, both P<0.05). The regression equation between wake time and the DLMO in the free sleepers predicted the DLMO in an independent sample of free sleepers (n=23) to within 1.5 h of the actual DLMO in 96% of cases. These results indicate that the DLMO can be readily estimated in people whose sleep times are minimally affected by work, class and family commitments. Further work is necessary to determine if the DLMO can be accurately estimated in people with greater work and family responsibilities that affect their sleep times, perhaps by using weekend wake times, and if this method will apply to the elderly and patients with circadian rhythm disorders.
Figures
Similar articles
- Sleep logs of young adults with self-selected sleep times predict the dim light melatonin onset.Martin SK, Eastman CI.Martin SK, et al.Chronobiol Int. 2002 Jul;19(4):695-707. doi: 10.1081/cbi-120006080.Chronobiol Int. 2002.PMID:12182497
- Nocturnal Melatonin Profiles in Patients with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder and Control Sleepers.Micic G, Lovato N, Gradisar M, Burgess HJ, Ferguson SA, Kennaway DJ, Lack L.Micic G, et al.J Biol Rhythms. 2015 Oct;30(5):437-48. doi: 10.1177/0748730415591753. Epub 2015 Jul 5.J Biol Rhythms. 2015.PMID:26149168
- Differences in circadian phase and weekday/weekend sleep patterns in a sample of middle-aged morning types and evening types.Paine SJ, Gander PH.Paine SJ, et al.Chronobiol Int. 2016;33(8):1009-17. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2016.1192187. Epub 2016 Jun 15.Chronobiol Int. 2016.PMID:27305623
- Why the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) should be measured before treatment of patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorders.Keijzer H, Smits MG, Duffy JF, Curfs LM.Keijzer H, et al.Sleep Med Rev. 2014 Aug;18(4):333-9. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2013.12.001. Epub 2013 Dec 10.Sleep Med Rev. 2014.PMID:24388969Review.
- Dim light melatonin onset (DLMO): a tool for the analysis of circadian phase in human sleep and chronobiological disorders.Pandi-Perumal SR, Smits M, Spence W, Srinivasan V, Cardinali DP, Lowe AD, Kayumov L.Pandi-Perumal SR, et al.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jan 30;31(1):1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.06.020. Epub 2006 Aug 1.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007.PMID:16884842Review.
Cited by
- Estimating the dim light melatonin onset of adolescents within a 6-h sampling window: the impact of sampling rate and threshold method.Crowley SJ, Suh C, Molina TA, Fogg LF, Sharkey KM, Carskadon MA.Crowley SJ, et al.Sleep Med. 2016 Apr;20:59-66. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2015.11.019. Epub 2015 Dec 18.Sleep Med. 2016.PMID:27318227Free PMC article.
- Characteristics of insomniacs with self-reported morning and evening chronotypes.Ong JC, Huang JS, Kuo TF, Manber R.Ong JC, et al.J Clin Sleep Med. 2007 Apr 15;3(3):289-94.J Clin Sleep Med. 2007.PMID:17561599Free PMC article.
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: part I, basic principles, shift work and jet lag disorders. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine review.Sack RL, Auckley D, Auger RR, Carskadon MA, Wright KP Jr, Vitiello MV, Zhdanova IV; American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Sack RL, et al.Sleep. 2007 Nov;30(11):1460-83. doi: 10.1093/sleep/30.11.1460.Sleep. 2007.PMID:18041480Free PMC article.Review.
- Fast neurotransmitter identity of MCH neurons: Do contents depend on context?Beekly BG, Rupp A, Burgess CR, Elias CF.Beekly BG, et al.Front Neuroendocrinol. 2023 Jul;70:101069. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101069. Epub 2023 May 5.Front Neuroendocrinol. 2023.PMID:37149229Free PMC article.Review.
- Dim light melatonin onset in alcohol-dependent men and women compared with healthy controls.Conroy DA, Hairston IS, Arnedt JT, Hoffmann RF, Armitage R, Brower KJ.Conroy DA, et al.Chronobiol Int. 2012 Feb;29(1):35-42. doi: 10.3109/07420528.2011.636852.Chronobiol Int. 2012.PMID:22217099Free PMC article.
References
- Adan A, Natale V. Gender differences in morningness-eveningness preference. Chronobiol Int. 2002;19:709–720. - PubMed
- Baehr EK, Revelle W, Eastman CI. Individual differences in the phase and amplitude of the human circadian temperature rhythm: with an emphasis on morningness-eveningness. J Sleep Res. 2000;9:117–127. - PubMed
- Boulos Z, Macchi MM, Sturchler MP, Stewart KT, Brainard GC, Suhner A, Wallace G, Steffen R. Light visor treatment for jet lag after westward travel across six time zones. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2002;73:953–963. - PubMed
- Brown EN, Choe Y, Shanahan TL, Czeisler CA. A mathematical model of diurnal variations in human plasma melatonin levels. Am J Physiol. 1997;272:E506–E516. - PubMed
- Burgess HJ, Eastman CI. Waking up late phase delays the human circadian clock more than staying up late. Sleep. 2005;28:A55.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Related information
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources