Baskett J J, Cockrem J F, Todd M A
University Geriatric Unit, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, NZ.
Age Ageing. 1991 Nov;20(6):430-4. doi: 10.1093/ageing/20.6.430.
Twenty-one-hour melatonin plasma profiles were studied in 15 normal elderly volunteers from the community, and eight who had been in hospital for more than six weeks and who had not been exposed to strong natural lighting. The hospital group had significantly higher daytime plasma melatonin levels, an earlier nocturnal rise, and the timing of their secretory profiles was more variable. These results suggest that currently used artificial and supplementary natural lighting may not be sufficient to suppress melatonin secretion adequately during daylight hours nor act efficiently to entrain day/night secretion of melatonin in a physiological circadian manner. Raised melatonin levels by day and variable secretory profiles at night may account for certain mood and sleep disorders observed in institutionalized people.
对15名来自社区的正常老年志愿者以及8名住院超过六周且未暴露于强烈自然光照下的患者进行了21小时的褪黑素血浆水平研究。住院组白天的血浆褪黑素水平显著更高，夜间升高时间更早，其分泌曲线的时间变化更大。这些结果表明，目前使用的人工照明和补充自然光照可能不足以在白天充分抑制褪黑素分泌，也无法以生理昼夜节律的方式有效地调节褪黑素的昼夜分泌。白天褪黑素水平升高以及夜间分泌曲线变化可能是导致机构化生活人群出现某些情绪和睡眠障碍的原因。
