The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Physiologically, blood melatonin levels decrease as a person ages and the older adult commonly presents with insomnia and other types of sleep disorders. Alternative therapies can be used to attenuate sleep disturbances. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on serum melatonin levels in the noninstitutionalized older adult (OA). DESIGN AND SETTING: A pre-experimental, quantitative study with a pre-test - post-test design was conducted on 67 OAs that included both sexes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum melatonin levels were measured before and after eight sessions of aromatherapy with lavender that lasted 4 weeks. The results were expressed as mean ±â€¯standard deviation of melatonin levels (pg/ml). The differences were compared using the Student's t-test and statistical significance was set at a p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Blood melatonin levels significantly increased in the total population after the intervention with aromatherapy (pg/ml): 102.3 ±â€¯33.4 VS 132.5 ±â€¯42.3, p = 0.000004. There were significant differences in the pre-test and post-test phases in the women and men measured as separate groups (p = 0.00005 and p = 0.026), respectively. However, those differences were not observed when the measurements were compared between the two sexes, before (p = 0.64) or after (p = 0.31) the intervention. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil similarly favors an increase in blood melatonin levels in both older adult men and women.

Serum ferritin and nutritional status in older adults at eldercare facilities.

OBJECTIVES: To identify serum ferritin levels and their association with nutritional status determined by Body Mass Index in older adults at four eldercare facilities. METHODS: An exploratory, cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 older adults residing at eldercare facilities in Colima, Mexico. Association between blood serum ferritin levels and nutritional status determined by Body Mass Index was evaluated. Ferritin levels were determined by means of chemiluminescence of blood samples obtained from subjects under control conditions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic characteristics. Student's t test and chi-square test were used to compare ferritin levels and Body Mass Index, respectively, between sexes. Statistical significance was considered to exist when P≤ 0.05. Pearson's correlation was used to establish the relation between Body Mass Index and serum ferritin levels. RESULTS: Mean serum ferritin levels were 59.9489 ng/mL in women and 86.9266 ng/mL in men (P= 0.12). In regard to Body Mass Index there was statistical significance between normal vs overweight/obesity (P = 0.008), but not between normal vs underweight (P = 0.34). Body Mass Index/serum ferritin correlation was not statistically significant (Pearson's r = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The quantification of a single serum indicator is insufficient for determining nutritional status in the older adult.