RESUMO
This study relates answers to the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) from Arctic Sojourn Workers (ASW) of Yamburg Settlement, 68° Latitude North, 75° Longitude East (n = 180; mean age ± SD; range: 49.2 ± 7.8; 25-66 y; 45% women) to Arctic Sojourn Work Experience (ASWE), age and health status. Chronotype, Mid Sleep on Free Days sleep corrected (MSFsc) and sleep characteristics of ASW were compared to those of age-matched Tyumen Residents (TR, n = 270; mean age ± SD; range: 48.4 ± 8.4; 25-69 y; 48% women), 57° Latitude North, 65° Longitude East. ASW have earlier MSFsc than TR (70 min in men, p < 0.0001, and 45 min in women, p < 0.0001). Unlike TR, their MSFsc was not associated with age (r = 0.037; p = 0.627) and was linked to a larger Social Jet Lag (+21 min in men; p = 0.003, and +18 min in women; p = 0.003). These differences were not due to outdoor light exposure (OLE): OLE on work (OLEw) or free (OLEf) days was not significantly different between ASW and TR in men and was significantly less in ASW than in TR women (OLEw: -31 min; p < 0.001; OLEf: -24 min; p = 0.036). ASWE, but not age, was associated with compromised lipid metabolism in men. After accounting for multiple testing, when corrected for age and sex, higher triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein ratio, TG/HDL correlated with ASWE (r = 0.271, p < 0.05). In men, greater SJL was associated with lower HDL (r = -0.204; p = 0.043). Worse proxies of metabolic health were related to unfavorable components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in ASW. Higher OLE on free days was associated with lower systolic (b = -0.210; p < 0.05) and diastolic (b = -0.240; p < 0.05) blood pressure.
RESUMO
Increased blood pressure and reduced robustness of circadian rhythms are frequently reported in elderly subjects. The present study was aimed to investigate whether such changes can be reversed by daily melatonin ingestion. 97 normotensive and hypertensive volunteers of both genders and 63 to 91 years old participated. They lived in the Tyumen Elderly Veteran House on a self-chosen sleep-wake regimen to suit their personal convenience. The experiment lasted for three weeks. After one control week, part of the group (n=63) received 1.5 mg melatonin (Melaxen(TM)) each day at 22:30 h for two weeks. The other 34 subjects were placebo-treated. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured using semi-automated devices at 03:00, 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 23:00 h each day of the first and the third week. Specially trained personnel made the measurements, taking care not to disturb subjects' sleep. Rhythm characteristics were estimated by means of single and population-mean cosinor analyses. Bingham test was used to compare rhythm parameters between groups and investigated physiologic variables. The 24-h HR rhythm was monophasic as described in other studies for young subjects though with a steeper increase in the morning. The daily SBP and DBP rhythms were bimodal. In reference to previously reported data of younger subjects, mean blood pressure of our cohort was elevated, particularly the nocturnal fall was less pronounced. Also, the overall SBP variability was higher as was the percentage of the 12-h component. Both values and also the SBP and DBP levels were reduced during melatonin treatment. The hypotensive effect of melatonin was most pronounced between 3:00 and 8:00 in the morning, i.e. at the time of the highest risk of adverse cardiovascular events, and in subjects with highest BP values before treatment. Moreover, the morning increase of HR was gentler what could have been of additional benefit. Melatonin has a direct hypotensive effect. Also, it stabilizes the internal temporal order enhancing the circadian component and the synchronization between rhythms of different physiological functions. This may further improve health and welfare of elderly subjects and particularly of those with hypertension. Taken together our data show the usefulness of melatonin for adjuvant medication.
