Research Article
Relationship between psychosomatic complaints and circadian rhythm irregularity assessed by salivary levels of melatonin and growth hormone
Authors:
- Mitsuo NaganeEmail Mitsuo Nagane
- Rie Suge
- Shu-Ichi Watanabe
Abstract
Background: In university health care settings, students with psychosomatic complaints often have chronotypic problems. For this reason, we investigated a potential connection between psychosomatic complaints and circadian rhythm irregularity assessed by salivary levels of melatonin and growth hormone.
Methods: Fifteen healthy students between 21 and 22 years of age were examined for physiological parameters of chronotypes based on melatonin and growth hormone secretion patterns, using a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay. Salivary samples were collected from subjects at home five times each day (20:00, 24:00, 04:00, 08:00, and 12:00 h). In addition, the subjects rated their psychosomatic symptoms twice (at 08:00 and 20:00 h).
Results: A group with irregular circadian rhythm of melatonin (ICR) showed more psychosomatic complaints than a group with the regular circadian rhythm (RCR), especially for anxiety.
Conclusion: Psychosomatic symptoms, particularly anxiety, may be associated with irregularity in melatonin and growth hormone rhythms, which can be altered by basic lifestyle habits even in healthy students.
- Year: 2011
- Volume: 9
- Page/Article: Art. 9
- DOI: 10.1186/1740-3391-9-9
- Submitted on 7 May 2011
- Accepted on 14 Sep 2011
- Published on 14 Sep 2011
- Peer Reviewed