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Related Experiment Videos

Modulation of plasma melatonin concentrations by changes in posture

P J Nathan1, A S Jeyaseelan, G D Burrows

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.

Journal of Pineal Research
|May 8, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Changing posture affects nocturnal melatonin levels. Sitting positions showed higher melatonin than lying down, while moving from lying to standing significantly increased melatonin concentrations in healthy volunteers.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Posture changes influence plasma volume and constituent concentrations.
  • Melatonin, a hormone influenced by light and circadian rhythms, may be affected by postural shifts.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for interpreting melatonin measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological impact of different postural positions on nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations.
  • To determine if changes from lying to sitting, or lying to standing, alter melatonin levels.
  • To explore the role of hemoconcentration and hemodilution in posture-induced melatonin variations.

Main Methods:

  • Four experimental stages involving healthy volunteers maintaining specific postures (sitting, lying, standing) for defined periods overnight.

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  • Plasma melatonin concentrations were measured and analyzed using Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis.
  • Statistical comparisons were made between different postural conditions to identify significant differences.

    • Main Results:

    • Significantly higher melatonin levels were observed in a sitting position compared to a lying position (P<0.05).
    • A statistically significant increase in melatonin concentrations occurred when transitioning from a lying to a standing position (P<0.05).
    • No significant difference in melatonin levels was found when changing posture from sitting to standing.

    Conclusions:

    • Postural changes, specifically sitting versus lying and lying to standing, significantly influence nocturnal melatonin concentrations in humans.
    • Hemoconcentration and hemodilution associated with posture shifts may mediate alterations in plasma protein-bound hormones like melatonin.
    • These findings highlight the importance of considering posture during melatonin level assessments.