New results: Weighted blanket increases melatonin

A new study from Uppsala University shows that using a weighted blanket at bedtime increases melatonin in young adults. This hormone increases in response to darkness, and some evidence suggests that it promotes sleep. The findings are published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

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Previous research has shown that weighted blankets may ease insomnia in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence, researchers at Uppsala University's Faculty of Pharmacy experimented with 26 young men and women to examine if the bedtime use of a weighted blanket increases the production of sleep-promoting and anti-stress hormones like melatonin and oxytocin.

In addition, they investigated whether the bedtime use of a weighted blanket (12 percent of participants' body weight) reduced the activity of stress systems in the body. To this end, saliva was collected repeatedly from participants while they were covered with either a weighted or a light blanket to measure melatonin, oxytocin, cortisol, and the activity of the fight and flight sympathetic nervous system.

(Image removed) Elisa Meth, PhD Student, Faculty of Pharmacy

"Using a weighted blanket increased melatonin concentrations in saliva by about 30 percent. However, no differences in oxytocin, cortisol, and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system were observed between the weighted and light blanket conditions," says Elisa Meth, first author and PhD Student at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.

The study may offer a mechanism explaining why weighted blankets may exert some therapeutic benefits, such as improved sleep. However, the findings rely on a small sample and investigated only the acute effects of a weighted blanket.

"Thus, larger trials are needed, including an investigation of whether the observed effects of a weighted blanket on melatonin are sustained over longer periods," says senior author Christian Benedict, Associate Professor of Pharmacology.

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CONTACT

(Image removed) Elisa de Mello e Souza Meth, PhD Student
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences
Elisa.Meth@farmbio.uu.se

(Image removed) Christian Benedict, researcher
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences
Christian.Benedict@farmbio.uu.se

text: Elin Bäckström, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a. o.

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