Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.

The aim of this study was to examine individual differences in a large sample of complete melatonin profiles not suppressed by light and search for possible associations between the amount and timing of melatonin secretion and a multitude of lifestyle variables. The melatonin profiles were derived f...

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Main Authors: Helen J Burgess, Louis F Fogg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2008-08-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0003055&type=printable
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author Helen J Burgess
Louis F Fogg
author_facet Helen J Burgess
Louis F Fogg
author_sort Helen J Burgess
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to examine individual differences in a large sample of complete melatonin profiles not suppressed by light and search for possible associations between the amount and timing of melatonin secretion and a multitude of lifestyle variables. The melatonin profiles were derived from saliva samples collected every 30 minutes in dim light from 85 healthy women and 85 healthy men aged 18-45 years. There was a large individual variability in the amount of melatonin secreted with peak values ranging from 2 to 84 pg/ml. The onset of melatonin secretion ranged from 18:13 to 00:26 hours. The use of hormonal birth control, reduced levels of employment, a smaller number of days on a fixed sleep schedule, increased day length and lower weight were associated with an increased amplitude of melatonin secretion. The use of hormonal birth control, contact lenses, a younger age, and lower ratings of mania and paranoia were associated with a longer duration of melatonin secretion. An earlier occurrence of the onset of melatonin secretion was associated with an earlier wake time, more morningness and the absence of a bed partner. Lifestyle and behavioral variables were only able to explain about 15% of the individual variability in the amount of melatonin secretion, which is likely because of a substantial genetic influence on the levels of melatonin secretion.
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spelling doaj-art-d844af2fbdc04596b6d8b8e869d82bfb2025-08-20T03:46:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032008-08-0138e305510.1371/journal.pone.0003055Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.Helen J BurgessLouis F FoggThe aim of this study was to examine individual differences in a large sample of complete melatonin profiles not suppressed by light and search for possible associations between the amount and timing of melatonin secretion and a multitude of lifestyle variables. The melatonin profiles were derived from saliva samples collected every 30 minutes in dim light from 85 healthy women and 85 healthy men aged 18-45 years. There was a large individual variability in the amount of melatonin secreted with peak values ranging from 2 to 84 pg/ml. The onset of melatonin secretion ranged from 18:13 to 00:26 hours. The use of hormonal birth control, reduced levels of employment, a smaller number of days on a fixed sleep schedule, increased day length and lower weight were associated with an increased amplitude of melatonin secretion. The use of hormonal birth control, contact lenses, a younger age, and lower ratings of mania and paranoia were associated with a longer duration of melatonin secretion. An earlier occurrence of the onset of melatonin secretion was associated with an earlier wake time, more morningness and the absence of a bed partner. Lifestyle and behavioral variables were only able to explain about 15% of the individual variability in the amount of melatonin secretion, which is likely because of a substantial genetic influence on the levels of melatonin secretion.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0003055&type=printable
spellingShingle Helen J Burgess
Louis F Fogg
Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
PLoS ONE
title Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
title_full Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
title_fullStr Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
title_full_unstemmed Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
title_short Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion.
title_sort individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0003055&type=printable
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