Melatonin Effects on Luteinizing Hormone

• Status: Terminated
• Trial end date: 2005-02-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

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.

• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Scripps Health
• Collaborator: University of California, San Diego
• Treatments: Hormones; Melatonin

Criteria

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