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Daylength and Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations Related to Seasonal Patterns of Melatonin Excretion
Last modified on:
Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:37:31
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Researchers in Athens, Greece examined seasonal patterns of melatonin excretion in humans with respect to daily variations and fluctuations in the geomagnetic field. Melatonin is hormone produced at night in humans. Urine samples were collected at night on the first Wednesday of each month for 1 year from 16 healthy volunteers. There was a significant interaction between day length variation and the vertical component of the geomagnetic field. The lowest values of monthly melatonin excretion were synchronized with high values of the day length variation rate and vertical component of the geomagnetic field, a situation which occurred close to the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. By contrast, the highest levels of melatonin excretion occurred close to the summer and winter solstices, coinciding with low values of the day length variation rate and of the vertical component of the geomagnetic field. The authors concluded that variations in the length of the day and fluctuations in the vertical component of the geomagnetic field interact to cause changes in melatonin secretion, thereby signaling changes of season in humans. [BENER 15128]
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