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Sleep Profile *
This simple saliva test, which identifies abnormal Melatonin
secretion patterns in late night samples, can reveal sleep
wake cycle
disturbances, which result in fatigue and insomnia.
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Reasons
to take this test:
Insomnia, Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances. Altered patterns and/or
levels of Melatonin secretion also coincide with depression, schizophrenia,
amenorrhea, anorexia, and some forms of cancer.
Overview
Many of life's most common occurrences - job, travel, stress,
aging - cause changes in sleeping patterns and are likely to have
adverse effects on Melatonin secretion patterns. Identifying abnormal
secretion patterns in late night samples can reveal sleep wake
cycle disturbances, which result in fatigue and insomnia. Late
night sample collection is greatly simplified by using saliva samples
which patients can collect themselves.
Melatonin
Melatonin
is produced primarily at night in dim light and facilitates the onset
and continuation of normal sleep patterns. In individuals
on normal sleep-wake schedules, Melatonin levels start to rise
about two hours prior to sleep, peak during the night, and decline
prior to awakening. If you suffer from any of the conditions listed
under above, you should test your body's Melatonin
production prior to the use of any Melatonin supplementation. Periodic
re-evaluation of your Melatonin levels are recommended if you are
taking Melatonin.
Melatonin has a mild sleep promoting effect and has been used
effectively in synchronizing the sleep-wake cycle of patients with
sleep disorders. Physiological doses of Melatonin also show little
or no carry-over sleepiness. Melatonin is also a powerful anti-oxidant
and at normal levels provide protection from the oxidative damage
of free radicals.
Summary
Melatonin production is regulated by daily light dark cycles and
is disrupted by disturbances in sleep patterns and certain medical
conditions. Supplemental doses of Melatonin can be safely used
to induce sleep in people with disturbed Melatonin rhythms.
References
- Sack,
R.L., Hughes, R.J., Edgar, D.M., & Lewy, A.J. (1997).
Sleep-promoting effects of melatonin: At what dose, in whom, under
what conditions, and by what mechanisms? Sleep, 20(10), 908-915.
- Zeitzer JM, Daniels JE, Duffy JF, Klerman EB, Shanahan TL,
Dijk DJ, Czeisler CA. Do plasma melatonin concentrations
decline with
age? Am J Med 1999 Nov;107(5):432-6
- Zhdanova
IV, Wurtman RJ, Morabito C, Piotrovska VR, Lynch HJ. Effects
of low oral doses of melatonin, given 2-4 hours
before habitual
bedtime, on sleep in normal young humans. Sleep 1996
Jun;19(5):423-31
- Zisapel
N. The use of melatonin for the treatment of insomnia. Biol
Signals Recept 1999 Jan-Apr;8(1-2):84-9 Waldhauser F, Kovacs
J, Reiter E. Age-related changes in melatonin levels in humans
and its potential consequences
for sleep disorders.
Exp Gerontol 1998 Nov-Dec;33(7-8):759-72
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