17 replies to this topic

[steelsky]

I was suggested methylcobalamin as a supplement to suppress daytime melatonin secretion or something of the sort, as I suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness.
However, from a quick Google search, I have only found trails that conclude that it is ineffective, or mildly so at best.

Anyone heard anything about the stuff, or has a personal experience?

[FunkOdyssey]

I didn't notice any major impact on daytime alertness but it definitely improved neurological lyme symptoms (5mg sublingual daily).

[kilgoretrout]

I was suggested methylcobalamin as a supplement to suppress daytime melatonin secretion or something of the sort, as I suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness.
However, from a quick Google search, I have only found trails that conclude that it is ineffective, or mildly so at best.

Anyone heard anything about the stuff, or has a personal experience?

I am not aware of any studies... I would just google it or search at PubMed. (have you used PubMed> First google pubmed, then go there and search "methylcobalamin and sleep" or whatever.)

I can say thay times when I have it in stock and use it a couple times a day I do recall NOT noticing a mid-afternood "dip" in evergy that usually happens.

But why not just go ahead and try it? It is available pretty cheap, and it does lots of things that are very very good for you, even if it does not prevent your narcolepsy.

You never know, you might find it helps in some other way, like make you more alert the rest of the time, or cause the sleepiness to go away faster than before. And as I said: IT CAN'T HURT YOU and almost certainly will be very good for you in multiple ways.

[steelsky]

I am naturally skeptic as I've tried many things to relieve my sleepiness. What's more, I have never heard of Methylcobalamine and I think that if it was noted to have a dramatic effect, I would have heard about it.

Still, I've ordered some (1mg sublingual and 5mg pills).

I do take sublingual B12, if it has any effect on sleepiness (in which case, I have not noticed any).

[tunt01]

i get a very faint tinge of a mental pick up from the b12 sublingual (jarrow, which everyone seems to take on imminst), but i think that is partly the sugar in it, acting on my tastebuds or what not...

[steelsky]

i get a very faint tinge of a mental pick up from the b12 sublingual (jarrow, which everyone seems to take on imminst), but i think that is partly the sugar in it, acting on my tastebuds or what not...

So why do you keep taking it? Pure sugar costs much less

The fact I haven't noticed anything major with B12 doesn't mean it doesn't have a mild effect anyway. Still, I'm wondering if the Methyl kind is supposed to be much different.

[kilgoretrout]

i get a very faint tinge of a mental pick up from the b12 sublingual (jarrow, which everyone seems to take on imminst), but i think that is partly the sugar in it, acting on my tastebuds or what not...

So why do you keep taking it? Pure sugar costs much less

The fact I haven't noticed anything major with B12 doesn't mean it doesn't have a mild effect anyway. Still, I'm wondering if the Methyl kind is supposed to be much different.

YES! Read the ample information on the web about it, it is very clear: regular b12 is cyanocobalamin, which a majority of people metabolize rather poorly, so that even if it all gets into your bloodstream via sublingual absorption, much of it fails to be metabolizedinto the active forms that are actually used by cells in the body, and eventually gets excreted.

On the other hand, methylcobalamin IS ALREADY THE EXACT ACTIVE FORM USED BY THE BODY'S CELLS.

http://www.immunesup...ge/neurob12.htm

Japanese scientists have identified a form of vitamin B12 that protects against neurological disease and aging by a unique mechanism that differs from current therapies. Some of the disorders that may be preventable or treatable with this natural vitamin therapy, called methylcobalamin, include chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathies, Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy and neurological aging. Americans have immediate access to this unique and new form of vitamin B12, and, unlike prescription drugs, it costs very little and is free of side effects.

vitamin B12 is a general label for a group of essential biological compounds knows as cobalamins. The cobalamins are structurally related to hemoglobin in the blood, and a deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause anemia. The primary concern of conventional doctors is to maintain adequate cobalamin status to protect against anemia.

The most common form of vitamin B12 is called cyanocobalamin. However, over the last ten years, a number of central and peripheral neurological diseases have been linked to a deficiency of a very specific cobalamin, the methylcobalamin form, that is required to protect against neurological diseases and aging. The liver converts a small amount of cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin within the body, but larger amounts of methylcobalamin are necessary to correct neurological defects and protect against aging.

Published studies show that high doses of methylcobalamin are needed to regenerate neurons as well as the myelin sheath that protects nerve axons and peripheral nerves.

Researchers concluded that methylcobalamin protects against neurotoxicity by enhancing brain cell methylation. The CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Health Resource recommends methylation-enhancing therapies such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid and trimethylglycine (TMG), taken together, to protect against heart disease, stroke and other aging-related diseases.

The scientists who conducted the methylcobalamin studies emphasize that ongoing intake of methylcobalamin is necessary to protect against neurotoxicity. Thus for methylcobalamin to be effective in protecting against neurological disease, daily supplementation may be required.

An appropriate dose to protect against neurological aging might be 1 to 5 mg a day taken under the tongue in lozenge form.

Sleep
A recent German study appearing in Neuropharmacology showed methylcobalamin reduced the amount of time subjects slept; sleep quality was better and subjects awoke feeling refreshed, with better alertness and concentration. Part of this effect was apparently due to melatonin suppression during the daytime because morning methylcobalamin supplementation reduces drowsiness by decreasing daytime melatonin levels.
(Neuropharmacology; 1996;15[5]:456-464)

[steelsky]

Thanks. I have read that publication. Still, when I searched for trails related to sleep and Methylcobalamin, I have only found inconclusive ones.

[Pike]

Steelsky, I remember you once telling me that the only nootropics that seemed to have a noticable effect (enouch to help you) were some of the pharaceutical noots.

I imagine that increasing acetylcholine or the catecholamines would increase wakefulness.

If that's the case, have you tried Welbutrin? From what I remember it's unscheduled and i hear its 2x as good as ritalin.

The AChEI Huperzine seemed to make me less "sleepy" when I took it. It's didn't reduce fatigue or pep me up or anything like that, it just seemed to make me want to sleep less. As I remember, a month ago or so, someone said something along the lines of 'you need to have a deactivated-cholinergic-system' or something in order for the mind to attain a restful sleep. Maybe your's isn't active enough?

edit: oh, if you decide to go with the methylcobalamin, I remember AOR has a product with a giant 15mg of methylcobalamin. Perhaps that one might be better for younger people and only dose once a week?

Edited by Pike, 31 July 2009 - 05:22 PM.

[steelsky]

Steelsky, I remember you once telling me that the only nootropics that seemed to have a noticable effect (enouch to help you) were some of the pharaceutical noots.

I imagine that increasing acetylcholine or the catecholamines would increase wakefulness.

If that's the case, have you tried Welbutrin? From what I remember it's unscheduled and i hear its 2x as good as ritalin.

The AChEI Huperzine seemed to make me less "sleepy" when I took it. It's didn't reduce fatigue or pep me up or anything like that, it just seemed to make me want to sleep less. As I remember, a month ago or so, someone said something along the lines of 'you need to have a deactivated-cholinergic-system' or something in order for the mind to attain a restful sleep. Maybe your's isn't active enough?

edit: oh, if you decide to go with the methylcobalamin, I remember AOR has a product with a giant 15mg of methylcobalamin. Perhaps that one might be better for younger people and only dose once a week?

Indeed I have tried Wellbutrine. At first I has remarkable results, for about a week or so. Truly I believed I had found my solution. Sadly, after that I began to return to feel the same. I tried taking a higher dose for a while, but I don't recall it making much difference. This is the same for Modafinil, which I've also tried for a while (I still take some, with Ritalin, but I don't feel it helps much as before).

I take Huperzine A (is it any different from AChEI Huperzine?) about twice a week. I don't really feel it has any effect on wakefulness. Lately I've been taking 1.7-2.5 grams of Piracetam and some Choline B and DMAE. It seems to have very positive effect on my mood and motivation but not much to help wakefulness.

So I'm still looking for a solution. Ritalin is fine, but the sides are not so pleasant and it doesn't last long (even Concerta and LA). I am now looking in the direction of Melatonin supressors (but I wonder why non are well known if there are some that actually help fight sleepiness... these would be great for many people).

[Jacovis]

steelsky and others,
I remember reading this from the LEF website regarding methylcobalamin and melatonin/circadian rhythm issues...

http://www.lef.org/m...99-report3.html
B12 and sleep

Those who can't get to sleep at night may need vitamin B12. Studies show that B12 causes an earlier release of melatonin at night which resets the sleep-wake cycle. (Melatonin has been called "the sleep hormone" because of its effects on sleep). B12 acts directly on the pineal gland to provoke a faster release of melatonin. At the tail end, B12 causes melatonin to drop off faster. B12 helps you get to sleep earlier, and may help you wake up earlier if you leave a curtain open to the morning sun. B12 sensitizes you to morning light, which helps you wake up. Very serious sleep-wake disorders have been successfully treated with vitamin B12 in the methylcobalamin form, although it may not work for everyone. Unfortunately, the vitamin doesn't help people who want to cut down on their sleep time altogether.


relevant references:
Honma K, et al. 1992. Effects of vitamin B12 on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans: increased light sensitivity phase-advances the circadian clock? Experientia 48:716-20.
Kamgar-Parsi B, et al. 1983. Successful treatment of human non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome. Sleep 6:257-64.
Mayer G, et al. 1996. Effects of vitamin B12 on performance and circadian rhythm in normal subjects. Neuropsychopharm 15:456-464.


Perhaps the key to getting more out of Methylcobalamin/Vitamin B12 in terms of daytime alertness is to combine it with Bright Light Therapy. Could there be some synergy with respect to suppressing daytime Melatonin levels, resulting in more alertness? The combo should definitely work in the morning straight after the Bright Light exposure (for more alertness) as Methylcobalamin 'enhances the phase-response of circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure in humans.'

http://en.wikipedia...._phase_syndrome
Light therapy (phototherapy) with a full spectrum lamp or portable visor, usually 10000 lux for 30–90 minutes at the patient's usual time of spontaneous awakening, or shortly before (but not long before), which is in accordance with the Phase response curve (PRC) for light. Sunlight can also be used.



1: Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2001 Jun;55(3):281-2. Links
Effects of vitamin B12 on bright light on cognitive and sleep-wake rhythm in Alzheimer-type dementia.

Ito T, Yamadera H, Ito R, Suzuki H, Asayama K, Endo S.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, Tama Nagayama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. itohtakao/psych@nms.ac.jp
The present study investigated the effects of vitamin B12 (VB12) on circadian rhythm in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD). Twenty-eight ATD patients were treated with bright light therapy (BLT) for 8 weeks. For the latter 4 weeks, half were treated with VB12 with BLT (BLT + VB12). We evaluated the cognitive state with Mini-Mental State Examination and the circadian rhythm with actigraphy after the fourth and eighth week. After the first 4 weeks BLT improved the circadian rhythm disturbances and cognitive state especially in the early stage of ATD. Although the latter 4 week-BLT caused no significant effects on the circadian rhythm; BLT + VB12 improved the vigilance level during the daytime. These results suggest that VB12 has some efficiency to enhance vigilance for ATD patients.
PMID: 11422876 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Other relevant references I found from a Pubmed search:

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders in adolescents: clinical trials of combined treatments based on chronobiology.
Okawa M, Uchiyama M, Ozaki S, Shibui K, Ichikawa H.
Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1998 Oct;52(5):483-90.
PMID: 10215009 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Methylcobalamin amplifies melatonin-induced circadian phase shifts by facilitation of melatonin synthesis in the rat pineal gland.
Ikeda M, Asai M, Moriya T, Sagara M, Inoué S, Shibata S.
Brain Res. 1998 Jun 8;795(1-2):98-104.
PMID: 9622603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of vitamin B12 on the sleep-wake rhythm following an 8-hour advance of the light-dark cycle in the rat.
Kiuchi T, Sei H, Seno H, Sano A, Morita Y.
Physiol Behav. 1997 Apr;61(4):551-4.
PMID: 9108574 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Vitamin B12 enhances the phase-response of circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure in humans.
Hashimoto S, Kohsaka M, Morita N, Fukuda N, Honma S, Honma K.
Neurosci Lett. 1996 Dec 13;220(2):129-32.
PMID: 8981490 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of vitamin B12 on performance and circadian rhythm in normal subjects.
Mayer G, Kröger M, Meier-Ewert K.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 1996 Nov;15(5):456-64.
PMID: 8914118 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Treatment of recurrent hypersomnia with methylcobalamin (vitamin B12): a case report.
Yamada N.
Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1995 Dec;49(5-6):305-7.
PMID: 8726119 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Circadian rhythm abnormalities in adrenoleukodystrophy and methyl B12 treatment.
Tomoda A, Miike T, Matsukura M.
Brain Dev. 1995 Nov-Dec;17(6):428-31.
PMID: 8747422 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of vitamin B12 on human circadian body temperature rhythm.
Uchiyama M, Mayer G, Okawa M, Meier-Ewert K.
Neurosci Lett. 1995 Jun 2;192(1):1-4.
PMID: 7675298 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of vitamin B12 (mecobalamin) on the sensitivity of rat circadian behavioral rhythm to light.
Takahashi Y, Usui S, Honda Y.
Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1993 Jun;47(2):489-90. No abstract available.
PMID: 8271650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of vitamin B12 on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans: increased light sensitivity phase-advances the circadian clock?
Honma K, Kohsaka M, Fukuda N, Morita N, Honma S.
Experientia. 1992 Aug 15;48(8):716-20.
PMID: 1516676 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of methylcobalamin (VB12) injection on sleep-wake rhythm in demented patients.
Mishima K, Okawa M, Hishikawa Y.
Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1992 Mar;46(1):227-8. No abstract available.
PMID: 1635319 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of vitamin B12 (mecobalamin) on the free-running period of rat circadian behavioral rhythm.
Takahashi Y, Usui S, Honda Y.
Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1992 Mar;46(1):222-4. No abstract available.
PMID: 1635317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of vitamin B12 (mecobalamin) on the circadian rhythm of rat behavior.
Takahashi Y, Usui S, Honda Y.
Clin Neuropharmacol. 1992;15 Suppl 1 Pt A:46A-47A. No abstract available.
PMID: 1498915 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sleep-wake rhythm disorders and vitamin B12.
Takahashi K, Sugishita M, Okawa M.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1992;Spec No:126-9. No abstract available.
PMID: 1297722 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Treatment of persistent sleep-wake schedule disorders in adolescents with methylcobalamin (vitamin B12).
Ohta T, Ando K, Iwata T, Ozaki N, Kayukawa Y, Terashima M, Okada T, Kasahara Y.
Sleep. 1991 Oct;14(5):414-8.
PMID: 1759094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Does methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) increase the light sensitivity of human circadian clock?
Honma K, Honma S, Kohsaka M, Morita N, Fukuda N.
Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1991 Mar;45(1):171-2. No abstract available.
PMID: 1753477 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Edited by Visionary7903, 01 August 2009 - 06:24 AM.

[gerhard]

Sounds great!

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I do have a question about this stuff -

Hydroxycobalamin is MUCH cheaper than Methylcobalamin, at least at RI... Anyone have the experience to know about how much Hydroxycobalamin it takes to equal any given amount of Methylcobalamin?

Or, alternatively, can anyone PM me a source with assured purity that costs less?

Thanks!

[steelsky]

steelsky and others,
I remember reading this from the LEF website regarding methylcobalamin and melatonin/circadian rhythm issues...

Great references, Visionary.
I'm a bit skeptic about the bright light therapy (how does it even work?), because sunshine isn't really a problem here in general and for me in particular. It is clear to me that I have a problem as I get tired regardless of light exposure.

It seems that Methylcobalamin modulates melatonin by promoting "it" and suppressing "it" when necessary. I just hope it would help me sleep better (I'm unsure whether I sleep well at all), and not be sleepy throughout the day. I only want to get to a 7-9 hours of proper sleep each day, but it seems like it doesn't matter whether I sleep 5 or 10 hours - I feel sleepy just the same.

[steelsky]

Does Methylcobalamine have decent oral bioavailability.
I've purchased both pills and sublingual, but I wonder if the pill form is any good at all.

[Jacovis]

steelsky and others,
I remember reading this from the LEF website regarding methylcobalamin and melatonin/circadian rhythm issues...

Great references, Visionary.
I'm a bit skeptic about the bright light therapy (how does it even work?), because sunshine isn't really a problem here in general and for me in particular. It is clear to me that I have a problem as I get tired regardless of light exposure.

It seems that Methylcobalamin modulates melatonin by promoting "it" and suppressing "it" when necessary. I just hope it would help me sleep better (I'm unsure whether I sleep well at all), and not be sleepy throughout the day. I only want to get to a 7-9 hours of proper sleep each day, but it seems like it doesn't matter whether I sleep 5 or 10 hours - I feel sleepy just the same.

Thanks for the response steelsky. I think there is something to Bright Light Therapy (there have been various studies done - just do a Pubmed search for 'Bright Light Therapy'). It may be particularly useful for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) type problems though it may be useful as an add-on to other therapies for other conditions.

The below study seems to summarise the situation with regard to research on Methylcobalamin and sleep-wake rhythm disorders. Note in the study they used 6 mg of Methylcobalamin a day as the 'high dose'.
Some other B12-related products (aside from gerhard's Hydroxycobalamin suggestion) that could be tried:
- a much higher dose of Methylcobalamin (such as AOR's Methylcobalamin Ultra - see http://www.aor.ca/ht...ts.php?id=145); perhaps 15 mg * 3 times a day;
- a more bioavailable form of Methylcobalamin (such as the MB12 Nasal Spray http://www.stankurtz...ay-summary.html or Methylcobalamin in subcutaneous injection form);
- the other coenzymated form of Vitamin B12 - Adenosylcobalamin (dibencozide).

Experiment with combining each one of the above-mentioned things with the following regimen:
- waking up to a dawn simulator in the morning (see http://en.wikipedia....wn_simulation);
- using bright light therapy (for appropriate timing of the therapy see the following quote from http://en.wikipedia..../Light_therapy:
"In the management of circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, the timing of light exposure is critical. For [Delayed sleep-phase syndrome], the light must be provided as soon after spontaneous awakening as possible to achieve the desired effect, as shown by the phase response curve for light in humans. Some users have reported success with lights that turn on shortly before awakening (dawn simulation). Morning use may also be effective for non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome, while evening use is recommended for advanced sleep phase syndrome.")
- if indoors, working/staying all day under lamps with an optimised amount of blue light like Philips' ActiViva (see http://www.lighting....s...ws&lang=en)
- combine such a regimen with blue light blocking glasses or lights in the evening (see http://www.lowbluelights.com/)

The Methylcobalamin/B12 could, in theory, enhance responsiveness to all the things in the above regimen.

A complicating factor may be Cortisol responses to awakening - bright light exposure after awakening (as well as dawn simulation) has been shown to elevate cortisol levels in healthy participants.
Also high cortisol awakening response is associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy. So the above strategies may not work to their potential (in fact may not work at all) if there is a high cortisol awakening response. Unless anyone knows any different, I guess what we can take away from the last study pasted in below is that high cortisol awakening response needs to be taken care of properly if one wants to make the most of the regimen I have proposed above...

http://www3.intersci...l...=1&SRETRY=0
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Volume 53 Issue 2, Pages 211 - 213
Published Online: 12 Feb 2002

Double-blind test on the efficacy of methylcobalamin on sleep–wake rhythm disorders
K. Takahashi , M. Okawa , M. Matsumoto, K. Mishima, H. Yamadera, M. Sasaki, Y. Ishizuka, K. Yamada, T. Higuchi, N. Okamoto, H. Furuta, H. Nakagawa, T. Ohta, K. Kuroda, Y. Sugita, Y. Inoue, N. Uchimura, H. Nagayama, T. Miike & K. Kamei
1 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo,, 2 Department of Psychophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Chiba Japan
Correspondence to: Kiyohisa Takahashi
KEYWORDS
delayed sleep phase syndrome • non-24 h sleep–wake syndrome • vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)
ABSTRACT
The therapeutic effect of methylcobalamin (Met-12) on sleep–wake rhythm disorders was examined in a double-blind test. In the test group which was given a large dosage, a higher percentage of improvement was found compared to the control group with a small dosage, although the difference was not significant. The test group inconsistently showed significant improvement in both the sleep–wake cycle parameters and in clinical symptoms. The tendency was for the results to show a beneficial effect of Met-12 on rhythm disorders. However, because the percentage of improvement was low and significant improvement was inconsistent, Met-12 might be considered to have a low therapeutic potency and possible use as a booster for other treatment methods of the disorders.


From the full text of the above study at http://www3.intersci...87295/PDFSTART:

"RESULTS
A general moderate improvement was seen in five test group patients (24–26%) and in two control group patients (7–8%) in both the 4th and 8th weeks, although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (Table1). A significant improvement of the parameters of the sleep–wake cycle,such as a delayed sleep phase or a longer period of the sleep–wake cycle, was observed in the test group compared to the control group at the end of the 4th week (P=0.034) but not the 8th week of administration. On the other hand, the test group showed a significant improvement in general clinical symptoms at the end of the 8th week (P=0.038), but not in the 4th week. However, the physical condition at the time of waking was significantly improved in the test group compared to the control group.

DISCUSSION
The present double-blind study, as well as the first double-blind trial, failed to show conclusive results concerning the effect of Met-12 on sleep–wake rhythm disorders. Although there was a significant difference in improvement of the rhythm parameters at the 4th week and an improvement in general clinical symptoms at the end of the 8th week between the high dosage and control groups, the difference was not sufficiently large or consistent through the experimental period. Also only one symptom, the subject’s mood at the time of waking, was shown to be significantly improved at the end of the 8th week in the test group compared to the control group.However,it would be improper to deny completely the therapeutic effect of Met-12. The fact that both the double-blind trials we performed showed such ambiguous results suggests a weak therapeutic effect of this compound.

Several animal studies have investigated the effect of Met-12 on sleep rhythms. Ikeda etal. reported a facilitating effect of Met-12 on both rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep in rats. Ebihara etal. showed the effect of Met-12 on the free-running period in mice. Honma etal. and Yamazaki etal. demonstrated the effect of Met-12 on human sensitivity to light. We are not sure whether the small dose of Met-12 could have an influence on the sensitivity of light perception in healthy subjects. These collected findings strongly suggest the biological effect of this compound on the circadian or sleep system. However, no definitive results were obtained as the actual level of influence is weak. It is reasonable to mention that this compound might be useful as a boost with other methods in ameliorating human rhythm disorders, although its single use is therapeutically insufficient. "


1: Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004 Aug;29(7):925-30. Links
The effect of dawn simulation on the cortisol response to awakening in healthy participants.

Thorn L, Hucklebridge F, Esgate A, Evans P, Clow A.
Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1R 8AL, UK.
Bright light exposure after awakening has been shown to elevate cortisol levels in healthy participants. The present study examined the effect of dawn simulation (a treatment for seasonal affective disorder) on the cortisol response to awakening and mood. Twelve healthy participants were supplied with a dawn simulator (The Natural Alarm Clock, Outside In, Cambridge Ltd), a bedside light that increases in intensity prior to awakening to approximately 250 lux over 30 mins when an audible alarm sounds. A counterbalanced study was performed on 4 consecutive normal weekdays, two of which were control days (no dawn simulation) and two experimental (dawn simulation). Saliva samples were taken immediately on awakening then at 15, 30 and 45 minutes post awakening on all 4 study-days. Total cortisol production during the first 45 mins after awakening was found to be significantly higher in the experimental condition than in the control condition. Participants also reported greater arousal in the experimental condition and there was a trend for an association between increased arousal and increased cortisol secretory activity under dawn simulation. This study provides supportive evidence for the role of light and the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the awakening cortisol response.
PMID: 15177708 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


1: Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2009 Feb 12. [Epub ahead of print]Links
High cortisol awakening response is associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy.

Martiny K, Lunde M, Undén M, Dam H, Bech P.
Psychiatric Research Unit, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
Martiny K, Lunde M, Undén M, Dam H, Bech P. High cortisol awakening response is associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy.Objective: We investigated the predictive validity of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in patients with non-seasonal major depression. Method: Patients were treated with sertraline in combination with bright or dim light therapy for a 5-week period. Saliva cortisol levels were measured in 63 patients, as an awakening profile, before medication and light therapy started. The CAR was calculated by using three time-points: awakening and 20 and 60 min after awakening. Results: Patients with low CAR had a very substantial effect of bright light therapy compared with dim light therapy, whereas patients with a high CAR had no effect of bright light therapy compared with dim light therapy. Conclusion: High CAR was associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy. This result raises the question of whether bright light acts through a mechanism different from that of antidepressants.
PMID: 19222404 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Edited by Visionary7903, 09 August 2009 - 07:09 AM.

[tunt01]

i use a dawn simulator. it's kind of a crappy one and i'm going to replace it. as i recall, it is optimal to use a blue-light emitting dawn simulator which has a spectrum that replicates the sun. mine uses a standard light, which is effective but i think could be improved.

i supplement with B12 lozenges (jarrow) and historically had a couple cortisol tests which ran towards the high side (couple years ago, unknown level today). i've had no issues with the light therapy and found it useful in managing my sleep schedule if i wanted to tweak it by an hour or two.

[steelsky]

i use a dawn simulator. it's kind of a crappy one and i'm going to replace it. as i recall, it is optimal to use a blue-light emitting dawn simulator which has a spectrum that replicates the sun. mine uses a standard light, which is effective but i think could be improved.

i supplement with B12 lozenges (jarrow) and historically had a couple cortisol tests which ran towards the high side (couple years ago, unknown level today). i've had no issues with the light therapy and found it useful in managing my sleep schedule if i wanted to tweak it by an hour or two.

Interestingly, my cortisol levels (last time I checked) were lower than average. Still, it seems that levels shift considerably during the day, depending on situations.

[steelsky]

Does taking Methylcobalamin before bed a good idea? I mean, does it suppress melatonin, or does it work for modulating the system, meaning that it improves sleep also?