The relationship between the dim light melatonin onset and sleep on a regular schedule in young healthy adults

Behav Sleep Med. 2003;1(2):102-14. doi: 10.1207/S15402010BSM0102_3.

Abstract

The endogenous melatonin onset in dim light (DLMO) is a marker of circadian phase that can be used to appropriately time the administration of bright light or exogenous melatonin in order to elicit a desired phase shift. Determining an individual's circadian phase can be costly and time-consuming. We examined the relationship between the DLMO and sleep times in 16 young healthy individuals who slept at their habitual times for a week. The DLMO occurred about 2 hours before bedtime and 14 hours after wake. Wake time and midpoint of sleep were significantly associated with the DLMO (r = 0.77, r = 0.68 respectively), but bedtime was not (r = 0.36). The possibility of predicting young healthy normally entrained people's DLMOs from their sleep times is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Light*
  • Male
  • Melatonin / analysis
  • Melatonin / metabolism*
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Sleep / physiology*
  • Wakefulness / physiology

Substances

  • Melatonin