Melatonin Effects on Luteinizing Hormone

February 6, 2006 updated by: Scripps Health
In many mammals, the duration of the nocturnal melatonin elevation regulates seasonal changes in reproductive hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH). Melatonin's effects on human reproductive endocrinology are uncertain. It is thought that the same hypothalamic pulse generator may both trigger the pulsatile release of GnRH and LH and also cause hot flashes. Thus, if melatonin suppressed this pulse generator in postmenopausal women, it might moderate hot flashes. This clinical trial tested the hypothesis that melatonin could suppress LH and relieve hot flashes.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Twenty postmenopausal women troubled by hot flashes underwent one week of baseline observation followed by 4 weeks of a randomized controlled trial of melatonin or matched placebo. The three randomized treatments were melatonin 0.5 mg 2.5-3 hours before bedtime, melatonin 0.5 mg upon morning awakening, or placebo capsules. Twelve of the women were admitted to the GCRC at baseline and at the end of randomized treatment for 24-hour sampling of blood for LH. Morning urine samples were collected twice weekly to measure LH excretion. Subjective responses measured throughout baseline and treatment included sleep and hot flash logs, the CESD and QIDS depression self-ratings, and the SAFTEE physical symptom inventory.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

20

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
        • Scripps Clinic Sleep Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

46 years to 66 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Postmenopausal woman
  • Troubled by hot flashes

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Use of reproductive hormones other than continuous estrogen or progesterone hormone replacement
  • Any acute illness
  • Any anticipated changes of medication
  • Anemia (hemoglobin <12) or poor veins Recent trans-time-zone jet travel, shift work, or irregular sleep habits Any neurological or pituitary disease

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Hot flashes log
Sleep log
QIDS
CESD
Luteinizing hormone (urine)
Luteinizing hormone (blood)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
SAFTEE inventory of symptoms and adverse effects
Other adverse events

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Scripps Health

Collaborators

University of California, San Diego

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Daniel F Kripke, MD, Scripps Clinic Sleep Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2004

Study Completion

February 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 30, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

February 7, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 7, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2006

Last Verified

October 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 03-101 (Scripps SOPRS #)
  • NIH M01 RR00833 (in part)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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