---
title: Does bright morning light reset the body clock differently in women with PMDD?
description: Women with PMDD showed a weaker response to bright morning light during the luteal phase compared to women without PMDD. The difference appeared only in the l
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/reduced-phase-advance-of-plasma-melatonin-after-bright-morning-light-in-the-2011/
---

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- Does bright morning light reset the body clock differently in women with PMDD?

Study, 2011

# Does bright morning light reset the body clock differently in women with PMDD?

Women with PMDD showed a weaker response to bright morning light during the luteal phase compared to women without PMDD. The difference appeared only in the luteal phase, not the follicular phase.

 Early or limited evidence

17 women with PMDD and 14 women without PMDD

## What they did

Researchers measured melatonin (the body clock hormone) in 17 women with PMDD and 14 women without PMDD during both the follicular and luteal phases. Participants received either bright morning light (3000 or 6000 lux) or evening bright light, and melatonin was measured after the light exposure.

## What they found

During the luteal phase, morning light moved the melatonin rhythm timing significantly less in women with PMDD than in control women. During the follicular phase there was no significant difference between groups. Evening light had no significant effects on melatonin measures in either group or phase.

## What it means for you

Women with PMDD appear less sensitive to morning light cues during their luteal phase, which could disrupt their body's daily rhythm synchronization. This disrupted rhythm might contribute to luteal phase depression in PMDD. The findings are limited by small sample size and need replication.

17

women with PMDD

14

women without PMDD

2

menstrual cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Reduced phase-advance of plasma melatonin after bright morning light in the luteal, but not follicular, menstrual cycle phase in premenstrual dysphoric disorder: an extended study Authors Parry BL, Meliska CJ, Sorenson DL et al. Journal Chronobiology international Year 2011 Study design Study Participants 17 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2011.567365](https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2011.567365)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)

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## Related studies

Randomised trial, 1994

How does light therapy affect hormone levels in women with PMDD?

Study, 2010

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Review, 2024

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Randomised trial, 2023

Does a one-week sleep and light intervention help PMDD mood symptoms?

Cohort study, 2022

Do women with both bipolar disorder and PMDD have worse biological rhythm disruptions?

Review, 2003

What is PMDD and what treats it?

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