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.
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
Topics
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