Melatonin alleviates jet lag symptoms caused by an 11-hour eastward flight

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Jun;56(3):301-2. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2002.00988.x.

Abstract

The effect of 3 mg of melatonin on the rate of re-entrainment of plasma melatonin rhythm after an 11-h eastward flight was assessed. Eight subjects participated in the study, and underwent 24-h blood samplings once before the flight and twice after the flight. Subjects were exposed to natural zeitgeber outdoors and took 3 mg of malatonin at 20:00 h local time on the days when no blood sampling was done. Antidromic re-entrainment was dominant whereby melatonin administration in the evening promoted re-entrainment. Melatonin accelerated the rate of re-entrainment by 15 min per day and alleviated the jet lag symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aviation*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Melatonin / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • New York
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Melatonin