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Does Melatonin Prevent Jet Lag?

Based on anecdotal evidence and small studies, the pineal hormone melatonin has been touted as a useful treatment for symptoms of jet lag. In this double-blind trial, researchers randomly assigned 257 Norwegian physicians visiting New York to one of four regimens, starting on the day of travel back to Norway and continuing for five days: 5 mg at bedtime, 0.5 mg at bedtime, 0.5 mg taken progressively earlier each day, or placebo.

Participants completed a daily jet lag rating scale, devised by the researchers, that included nine prominent daytime symptoms of jet lag. During each of the six days following the trip back to Norway, there were no differences in jet lag scores between any of the active treatments and placebo. Various subgroups were also examined, but none benefited from melatonin.

Comment: This trial -- the largest of its kind, according to the authors -- suggests that melatonin has little if any role in the treatment of jet lag. Nevertheless, the authors advise further study and note the possibility that other dosing schedules might be more effective than those used in this study.

— AS Brett

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 24, 1999

Citation(s):

Spitzer RL et al. Jet lag: Clinical features, validation of a new syndrome-specific scale, and lack of response to melatonin in a randomized, double-blind trial. Am J Psychiatry 1999 Sep 156 1392-1396.

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