Can camping reset melatonin production?

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Cover Stothard er, Mchill AW, Depner CM, et al. Tirkadiane with you in the natural light-dark cycle over the seasons and the weekend. Curr Biol. 2017; 27 (4): 508-513. Design and participant study 1: five (1 woman, 4 men, age 30.4 ± 8.6 years) Healthy, physically active people took part in the two -week experiment that took place around the winter solstice in Boulder, Colorado. During the first week, the participants recorded regular daily sleeping and waking times in their home environment using their typical self-chosen artificial night light habits (Alan). The second week was an outdoor camping experience in the Rocky Mountains, where only natural light (i.e. sunlight, moonlight ...
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reference

Stothard er, Mchill AW, Depner CM, et al. Tirkadiane with you in the natural light-dark cycle over the seasons and the weekend. Curr Biol . 2017; 27 (4): 508-513.

design and participant

  • study 1: five (1 woman, 4 men, age 30.4 ± 8.6 years) Healthy, physically active people took part in the two -week experiment that took place around the winter solstice in Boulder, Colorado. During the first week, the participants recorded regular daily sleeping and waking times in their home environment using their typical self-chosen artificial night light habits (Alan). The second week was an outdoor camping experience in the Rocky Mountains, where only natural light (i.e. sunlight, moonlight and campfire; no flashlights, lanterns or electrical devices) was allowed.
  • study 2: fourteen (7 men, 7 women, age 28.4 ± 8.8 years) Healthy, physically active people took part in a one -week experiment that took place around the summer solstice in Boulder, Colorado. During the week, the participants recorded regular daily sleep and waking times in their home environment based on their typical self-chosen Alan habits. At the weekend, the test group (n = 9) went to a two -day camping experience in the Rocky Mountains (flashlights were allowed). The remaining participants stayed in their home Alan environment over the weekend.

target parameter

  • Nocturnal melatonin levels (including the beginning, center and end point)
  • Night sleeping plan (including duration, start and end)

important knowledge

In study 1, medium melatonin operations occurred 2.6 hours earlier than their individual alan-based times ( p = 0.017, effect size η g

The melatonin use during winter camping was significantly earlier and the sleep time was significantly extended compared to a similar summer camping experience (sleep time: 10.0 ± 1.8 hours compared to 14.4 ± 2.8 hours, p <0.025, effect size η 2 g = 0.53). In contrast, there were no significant differences in melatonin or sleeping times between the winter and summer alan groups, which demonstrates the balancing effect of modern lighting on natural seasonal circadian rhythms.

These two small experiments demonstrate applications of general philosophy of naturopathy - namely in harmony with the cycles of the natural world.

In study 2, the middle melatonin use and middle dots were on average 1.4 and 1.0 hours earlier than their individual starting times from the previous week ( p <0.01; effect sizes η g = 0.45 or 0.20) Sleep pattern has not changed. Participants in the Alan base group had medium delays of about 1.0 hours for melatonin use and centering point, which reflects the larger social activities (e.g. being with friends, watching television/films) who were reported by the participants.

practice implications

These studies are the first to use a controlled experimental method to show that real ambient light exposure (compared to laboratory-induced changes) influence the melatonin use in humans. Study 1 definitely shows that natural patterns of melatonin production can vary seasonally between the winter and summer months, with corresponding changes in the duration of sleep, in contrast to the typical melatonin and sleep patterns that result from alan exposure in modern society and are constant all year round.

Study 2 shows that the shift of the circadian melatonin patterns can quickly take place over a single weekend if they are exposed to natural or artificial light patterns.

These two small experiments demonstrate applications of general philosophy of naturopathy - namely in harmony with the cycles of the natural world and nature to Medicatrix Naturae (the healing power of nature).

An extended melatonin production and sleep times during the winter months give evolutionary advantages with regard to the regulation of hormones, neurotransmitters and the immune system. 1 This has clinical effects on mental illnesses (e.g. seasonal affective disorder). Sclerosis). 3 Of course it is known that the circadian cycle of melatonin production influences a variety of other health-related consequences, in particular insomnia and disorders of the sleep-wax cycle and cancer, in particular breast cancer (as reported in the Natural Medicine Journal). of which are known that they are affected by circadian disorders, encompasses adrenal insufficiency, insulin/blood sugar regulation, weight control/obesity, high blood pressure, cognitive functions, Parkinson's disease and asthma.

The restrictions in this study include the very small sample size, the lack of randomization and the selection of the participants. Anyone who agreed to camp in Colorado for a week at the end of December probably belongs to a unique sub -group of the population and may not have any physiological (or psychological) reactions that are representative of a larger general population. However, the results of these studies confirm decades of studies on the circadian rhythm in other mammals. Further research is required to verify the clinical benefits of this work.

FAZIT

The circadian rhythm of humans can fluctuate strongly, depending on the season and natural and artificial ambient light. Although not everyone is a candidate for 6 days of winter camping in the Rocky Mountains, it is likely that everyone could benefit from adapting their Alan time plan so that they are more in harmony with the natural light and dark cycles of the seasons.

  1. s. Tordjman, S. Chocron, R. Delorme et al. Melatonin: pharmacology, functions and therapeutic advantages. Curr Neuropharmacol . 2017; 15 (3): 434-443.
  2. lanfumey L, Mongeau R, Hamon M. Biological rhythms and melatonin in mood disorders and their treatment. pharmacol. Ther . 2013; 138 (2): 176-184.
  3. Lin GJ, Huang Sh, Chen SJ, Wang Ch, Chang DM, SYTWU HK. Modulation by melatonin of pathogenesis of inflammatory autoimmune diseases. int. J. Mol. Sci . 2013; 14 (6): 11742-11766.
  4. Xie Z, Chen F, Li Wa, et al. An overview of sleep disorders and melatonin. neurol-res . 2017; 39 (6): 559-565.
  5. Kaczor T. An overview of melatonin and breast cancer. Nat med J. 2010; 2 (2).
  6. Smolensky MH, Hermida RC, Reinberg A, Sackett-Lunden L, Portaluppi F. Zirkadiane Disorder: New clinical perspective of disease pathology and the basis for chronotherapeutic intervention. chronobiol int . 2016; 33 (8): 1101-1119.