Daily Nighttime Melatonin Reduces Blood Pressure in Male Patients With Essential Hypertension
Frank A.J.L. Scheer; Gert A. Van Montfrans; Eus J.W. van Someren; Gideon Mairuhu; Ruud M. Buijs
From Netherlands Institute for Brain Research (F.A.J.L.S., E.J.W.v.S., R.M.B.), the Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center (G.A.V.M., G.A.), and VU University Medical Center (E.J.W.v.S.), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to Dr Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail fscheer@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Patients with essential hypertension have disturbed autonomic cardiovascular regulation and circadian pacemaker function. Recently, the biological clock was shown to be involved in autonomic cardiovascular regulation. Our objective was to determine whether enhancement of the functioning of the biological clock by repeated nighttime melatonin intake might reduce ambulatory blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 16 men with untreated essential hypertension to investigate the influence of acute (single) and repeated (daily for 3 weeks) oral melatonin (2.5 mg) intake 1 hour before sleep on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and actigraphic estimates of sleep quality.
Repeated melatonin intake reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure during sleep by 6 and 4 mm Hg, respectively. The treatment did not affect heart rate. The day–night amplitudes of the rhythms in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were increased by 15% and 25%, respectively. A single dose of melatonin had no effect on blood pressure. Repeated (but not acute) melatonin also improved sleep. Improvements in blood pressure and sleep were statistically unrelated. In patients with essential hypertension, repeated bedtime melatonin intake significantly reduced nocturnal blood pressure. Future studies in larger patient group should be performed to define the characteristics of the patients who would benefit most from melatonin intake. The present study suggests that support of circadian pacemaker function may provide a new strategy in the treatment of essential hypertension.
(Hypertension. 2004;43:192.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.
Definition:
Essential high blood pressure is also called essential hypertension or primary high blood pressure. Essential high blood pressure is the most common kind of high blood pressure. Almost 95% of people with high blood pressure have the essential or primary kind. In the essential type, high blood pressure occurs without any other medical cause of explanation. In other words, the high blood pressure is primary (not a result of another medical condition). Essential high blood pressure usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50. Control of essential high blood pressure varies for each individual.
Also Known As: Primary Hypertension
Repeated melatonin intake reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure during sleep by 6 and 4 mm Hg, respectively. The treatment did not affect heart rate. The day–night amplitudes of the rhythms in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were increased by 15% and 25%, respectively. A single dose of melatonin had no effect on blood pressure. Repeated (but not acute) melatonin also improved sleep. Improvements in blood pressure and sleep were statistically unrelated. In patients with essential hypertension, repeated bedtime melatonin intake significantly reduced nocturnal blood pressure. Future studies in larger patient group should be performed to define the characteristics of the patients who would benefit most from melatonin intake. The present study suggests that support of circadian pacemaker function may provide a new strategy in the treatment of essential hypertension.
(Hypertension. 2004;43:192.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.
Definition:
Essential high blood pressure is also called essential hypertension or primary high blood pressure. Essential high blood pressure is the most common kind of high blood pressure. Almost 95% of people with high blood pressure have the essential or primary kind. In the essential type, high blood pressure occurs without any other medical cause of explanation. In other words, the high blood pressure is primary (not a result of another medical condition). Essential high blood pressure usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50. Control of essential high blood pressure varies for each individual.
Also Known As: Primary Hypertension
This entry was posted
at Wednesday, January 13, 2010
and is filed under
blood pressure monitoring,
circadian rhythm,
hormones,
human,
hypertension
. You can follow any responses to this entry through the
.
