HormonesMelatonin

Exogenous evening melatonin mitigates the disruptive effects of dim light at night on sleep and metabolism in diurnal zebra finches

In a controlled experiment, zebra finches exposed to 5-lux dim light at night (dLAN) received subcutaneous melatonin injections (10 µg/100 µl vehicle) 30 minutes before dark onset for 11 days. Melatonin-treated birds showed significantly reduced nocturnal sleep fragmentation (fewer awakenings, longer sleep bouts), decreased night-time feeding and body fattening, and restored hepatic expression of glucose and lipid metabolism genes compared to vehicle-treated controls.

Last updated: Aug 11, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score24/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Exogenous evening melatonin mitigates the negative impact of night-time light pollution on sleep and metabolism in both sexes of diurnal zebra finches.

observational

Buniyaadi A, Kumar A, Bhardwaj SK, Kumar V · The Journal of experimental biology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 11 days
Intervention: Subcutaneous injection of 10 µg melatonin in 100 µl vehicle, administered 30 minutes before dark onset for 11 consecutive days
Outcome: Nocturnal sleep frequency (awakenings), sleep bout duration, night-time feeding, body fattening, hepatic gene expression (g6pc, irs1, fasn, star, egr1, sirt1)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Diurnal zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) of both sexes, hatched and raised in indoor aviary (n=6/group/sex)

Result:

PubMed: 42516011DOI: 10.1242/jeb.252506

Mechanism Graph

Exogenous melatonin elevates nocturnal melatonin levels
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Melatonin prevents midnight increase in g6pc, irs1, fasn, star, and egr1 mRNA
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Melatonin augments sirt1 mRNA levels
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Result: Reduced sleep fragmentation, decreased night-time feeding and body fattening, normalized hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism

Limitations

  • ⚠Animal model (zebra finches) limits direct generalizability to humans
  • ⚠Small sample size (n=6 per group per sex) may reduce statistical power
  • ⚠Short intervention duration (11 days) does not assess long-term effects

Frequently Asked Questions

What dose of melatonin was used in this study?▼

The study used 10 µg of melatonin in 100 µl vehicle, administered subcutaneously 30 minutes before dark onset.

Did melatonin affect sleep in both male and female zebra finches?▼

Yes, the effects of melatonin on sleep and metabolism were independent of sex.

What type of light pollution was tested?▼

The study used 5-lux dim light at night (dLAN), equivalent to 0.048 W/m², replacing the dark night period.

How long did the melatonin treatment last?▼

Melatonin was administered daily for 11 consecutive days.

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References

  1. 1.Buniyaadi A, Kumar A, Bhardwaj SK, Kumar V. "Exogenous evening melatonin mitigates the negative impact of night-time light pollution on sleep and metabolism in both sexes of diurnal zebra finches.." The Journal of experimental biology, 2026. PMID: 42516011 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.252506
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.