Protocol Number: 05-CH-0037

Title:

The Effects of Hydrocortisone, Melatonin, and Placebo on Symptoms of Jet Lag

Number:

05-CH-0037

Summary:

This study will examine the effects of cortisol (hydrocortisone), melatonin, a combination of cortisol and melatonin, and placebo (an inactive substance) on jet lag symptoms. Jet lag is a term used to describe symptoms people commonly experience after rapid travel across several time zones. The cause of jet lag is not known, but various hormones, including cortisol and melatonin, have a day-to-night pattern of secretion and play a role in maintaining the body's internal rhythms. This study will test whether taking cortisol, melatonin, or both can help re-establish the body's day-night cycle and result in less jet lag.

People between 18 and 65 years of age who are planning a non-stop eastward flight with the following characteristics may be eligible for this study:

- Crossing six to eight time zones (6 to 8 hours difference between Eastern Standard Time and the destination)

- Destination between 30 and 50 latitudes (approximately Cairo to London)

- Evening flight (5 PM to midnight) with morning arrival

- Remaining abroad at least 4-10 days

Candidates must have a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 30 kg/M (not too thin and not overweight) and must not be taking medicines that affect sleep or cortisol or melatonin levels. Prospective participants are screened with a medical history, blood tests, and check of blood pressure, height, and weight.

Pre-flight Procedures

Participants keep a sleep journal 3 days before the flight. For 1 day within 3 days of the flight they fill out jet lag and sleepiness questionnaires and collect morning and bedtime saliva samples for measurement of cortisol and melatonin. The saliva is collected by chewing on two small cotton pads and spitting them into a tube. Premenopausal women provide a urine sample the week before the flight to test for pregnancy. On the day of the flight, the participants do not collect saliva or fill out sleep logs or questionnaires. They are given two bottles with study medication. One bottle, labeled "AM," contains either hydrocortisone or placebo; the other, labeled "PM," contains either melatonin or placebo.

Post-flight Procedures

Upon arriving at their destination in the morning, participants obtain a saliva sample and take one of the capsules in the "AM" bottle. At bedtime, they collect saliva and then take one of the "PM" capsules. They repeat the medication doses for a total of 4 days and repeat the saliva collections on days 2 through 4, 7 and 10 after arrival. In addition, participants complete jet lag and sleep questionnaires in the morning, afternoon, and just before bedtime on the day of arrival and on days 2 through 4, 7 and 10.

After they return from their trip, participants are seen at the NIH Clinic to bring in their saliva specimens and review their questionnaires with study investigators.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Completed Study; data analyses ongoing

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria: This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keyword(s):

Cortisol

Travel

Saliva

Body Clock

Sleep

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Healthy Volunteer

HV

Jet Lag

Condition(s):

Jet Lag Syndrome

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Interventions:

Drug: Melatonin

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Contact(s):

This study is not currently recruiting new subjects. If you have questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.

Citation(s):

Arendt J, Aldhous M, Marks V. Alleviation of jet lag by melatonin: preliminary results of controlled double blind trial. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1986 May 3;292(6529):1170. No abstract available.

Buxton OM, Copinschi G, Van Onderbergen A, Karrison TG, Van Cauter E. A benzodiazepine hypnotic facilitates adaptation of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake homeostasis to an eight hour delay shift simulating westward jet lag. Sleep. 2000 Nov 1;23(7):915-27.

Cho K, Ennaceur A, Cole JC, Suh CK. Chronic jet lag produces cognitive deficits. J Neurosci. 2000 Mar 15;20(6):RC66. PMID: 10704520

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

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