January 30, 2006
Eur J Neurol. 2006 Jan;13(1):55-60.
Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G.
Department of Neurology, Sleep-Wake Disorders and Chronobiology, Hospital De Gelderse Vallei, Ede, The Netherlands.
The effect of melatonin, a chronobiotic drug, was explored in 29 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Dim Light Melatonin onset (DLMO) later than 21.30 hours, reflective of delayed circadian rhythmicity.
The patients took 5 mg of melatonin orally, 5 h before DLMO during 3 months. Their responses to the checklist individual strength (CIS), a reliable questionnaire measuring the severity of personally experienced fatigue, were assessed twice with a 6-week interval immediately before the treatment and once after 3 months treatment.
In the pre-treatment period the fatigue sub-score improved significantly. After treatment, the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration, motivation and activity improved significantly. The sub-score fatigue normalized in two of the 29 patients in the pre-treatment period and in eight of 27 patients during treatment. This change was significant.
In the patients with DLMO later than 22.00 hours (n = 21) the total CIS score and the sub-scores for fatigue, concentration and activity improved significantly more than in the patients (n = 8) with DLMO earlier than 22.00 hours. Melatonin may be an effective treatment for patients with CFS and late DLMO, especially in those with DLMO later than 22.00 hours.
PMID: 16420393 [PubMed - in process]
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