Does Exogenous Melatonin given at night Enhance Next day Performance In People Without Desynchronized Sleep Patterns ?
Jamila K Adam Department of Biomedical and Clinical Technology Faculty of Health Sciences Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Abstract:
This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin on psychomotor performance in human healthy volunteers (notably without complaints of desynchronized sleep patterns). It was a double blind, crossover and placebo-controlled study recruiting six normal healthy volunteers. They received single oral doses of melatonin (3 mg) (Melatonin tablets/Nature’s Bounty, Inc. U.S.A) or placebo (glucose powder) in identical opaque capsules at two occasions one week apart. The treatments were given at night, half an hour before bedtime. Performance parameters including: the choice reaction time (CRT), recognition reaction time (RRT), movement reaction time (MRT) and the critical flicker fusion frequency threshold (CFF) were measured at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on day 1 (before taking the treatments) and on day 2 (after taking the treatments). The measurements were done using the computerized Leed’s Psychomotor tester which displays results directly in milliseconds for the reaction times, and in hertz for the CFF. Statistical analysis of results by ANOVA test showed no significant differences in the recorded parameters CRT, RRT, MRT & CFF following melatonin treatment in comparison with placebo. Four out of six of our volunteers experienced less time to fall asleep, with no waking up intervals after melatonin intake, in comparison with placebo.
No adverse effects were noticed following the 3 mg doses of melatonin therapy in our subjects.
In conclusion, this study showed that single oral doses of melatonin did not enhance performance in the absence of abnormalities of sleep patterns.
