Abstract des Autors

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone which is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. Melatonin has hypnotic effects, thereby inducing fatigue and drowsiness. It also has the ability to adjust the body clock. The temperature lowering effect of melatonin seems to occur whenever it is administered. Utilisation of this effect is best achieved if it is taken in the early evening in the new local time. Use of melatonin to combat jet lag must take into account both its hypnotic action and its phase-response curve. Taken in the evening (body clock time), it advances the body clock; taken in the morning, it delays the body clock. It can have opposite effects to those desired if the timing of ingestion is not in harmony with both internal and external time signals. Verf.-Referat